Who is covered by DRI values? A Comprehensive Look at Nutrition Guidelines

November 2, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies, Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are a set of reference values used for planning and assessing diets for apparently healthy people. A clear understanding of who is covered by DRI values is essential for properly interpreting and applying these nutritional guidelines.

Quick Summary

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) provide nutrient recommendations for healthy individuals across various life stages and genders. They are not intended for people with chronic diseases, nutrient deficiencies, or certain physiological conditions, as these situations require specific clinical guidance.

Key Points

Healthy Individuals: DRIs apply exclusively to apparently healthy people, providing recommendations to prevent deficiency and promote wellness.
Life Stage and Gender: Values are stratified into specific categories based on age, gender, and physiological status like pregnancy or lactation to meet diverse needs.
Not for Medical Conditions: The DRIs are not designed for individuals with chronic diseases, nutrient deficiencies, or other medical issues that require clinical intervention.
Multiple Reference Values: The system includes EAR, RDA, AI, and UL, each with a distinct purpose for either assessing population intake or guiding individual planning.
Clinical Guidance for Special Cases: People with altered nutrient requirements due to illness or medication should seek tailored advice from a qualified medical or nutrition professional.
Bioavailability and Adaptation: The DRIs account for typical nutrient bioavailability, but individual requirements may vary, requiring consideration of lifestyle and other factors.

The Core Principle: A Focus on Health

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) were developed to help prevent nutritional deficiencies and promote optimal health in North America. A key point is that DRIs are for the apparently healthy population. This excludes individuals with chronic illnesses, metabolic disorders, or nutrient deficiencies requiring clinical treatment. DRIs assume normal metabolism and nutrient absorption. They are a benchmark for public health and education but not a universal prescription.

Life Stage and Gender Groups

DRI recommendations vary by age and gender to account for different nutrient needs. These groups include infants (0-6 months, 7-12 months, based on breastfed infants), children (1-3 years, 4-8 years), adolescents (9-13 years, 14-18 years, separated by gender), adults (19-30 years, 31-50 years, 51-70 years, over 70 years), and specific recommendations for pregnancy and lactation.

The Components of the DRI System

Understanding the different reference values within the DRI system is crucial for knowing who is covered and how to apply these guidelines.

Key DRI Components:

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): Meets the needs of 50% of a healthy group; used for assessing group intake.
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): Meets the needs of 97-98% of a healthy group; derived from the EAR and used as an individual goal.
Adequate Intake (AI): Used when there's insufficient evidence for an EAR/RDA; based on healthy intake estimates and presumed adequate for most.
Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): Highest intake level with minimal risk of adverse effects for most people; risk increases above this level.

Comparison of DRI Values


Feature	Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)	Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)	Adequate Intake (AI)	Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
Intended Use	Assess nutrient intake of groups and plan for groups.	A daily intake goal for individuals.	A daily intake goal for individuals (when no RDA).	Assess potential risk of adverse effects from excessive intake.
Population Coverage	Meets the needs of 50% of a healthy group.	Meets the needs of 97–98% of a healthy group.	Assumed to meet or exceed the needs of almost all healthy people.	The highest level unlikely to cause adverse effects in almost all healthy people.
Data Certainty	Requires sufficient data to define an EAR based on a specific indicator of adequacy.	Based on an EAR with a statistically determined margin of safety.	Based on observational or experimental data when an EAR/RDA cannot be set due to lack of evidence.	Based on a risk assessment model to identify potential toxicity.

The Exceptions: Who the DRIs Do Not Cover

DRIs are not suitable for everyone. They are explicitly for healthy people and not appropriate for several groups.

Groups Not Covered by Standard DRI Recommendations:

Individuals with Diseases: Conditions like chronic diseases or metabolic disorders require specific medical nutrition therapy.
Malnourished Individuals: DRIs are not for correcting existing nutrient deficiencies.
Those with Metabolic Alterations: Conditions affecting nutrient absorption, metabolism, or excretion necessitate altered recommendations.
Hospitalized or Parenterally Fed Patients: Individuals receiving nutrients non-orally have different requirements where DRIs don't directly apply.

These populations require individualized guidance from qualified medical and nutrition professionals.

Considerations Beyond the Basics

Individual nutrient needs can vary within the healthy population due to factors like nutrient bioavailability and genetics. While DRIs account for some common variables, they cannot cover every unique situation. Nutrient requirements also change throughout life, and DRIs are updated as new scientific data emerges.

Conclusion: Context is Key for Using DRIs

In conclusion, DRIs are intended for apparently healthy individuals across specific life stages and genders, serving as a valuable tool for public health and dietary planning. It is critical to recognize their limitations; they are not for diagnosing or treating deficiencies or chronic diseases, which require clinical expertise. For the general public, understanding who is covered by DRIs supports informed dietary choices. Individuals with health conditions should consult a registered dietitian or healthcare provider for personalized advice.

For more detailed information on nutrient recommendations, consult the resources provided by authoritative health organizations.

Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health

Frequently Asked Questions

The term 'apparently healthy people' refers to the general population that does not have chronic diseases, metabolic disorders, nutrient deficiencies, or other medical conditions that would alter their nutrient needs.

Yes, DRIs include specific recommendations for infants, with separate categories for ages 0–6 months and 7–12 months.

No, DRIs are not intended for individuals with chronic illnesses. Those with such conditions require special dietary planning and management by qualified medical or nutrition personnel.

Pregnant and lactating women have significantly different physiological needs than other adults. The DRIs include specific, separate recommendations tailored to support both the mother and the developing baby or infant.

The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) meets the needs of 50% of a healthy group, while the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is set to meet the needs of nearly all (97–98%) healthy individuals within that group. The EAR is used for groups, and the RDA is used as an individual's intake goal.

An Adequate Intake (AI) is established when there is not enough scientific evidence to determine a precise EAR and therefore an RDA. The AI is an estimate assumed to be adequate for most people based on observational data.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is the maximum daily intake of a nutrient that is unlikely to cause adverse health effects. It helps individuals and health professionals avoid nutrient toxicity from overconsumption, especially from supplements.

No, DRIs cannot be used directly for individuals on special diets, such as those receiving parenteral nutrition. Such cases involve unique nutrient requirements and absorption factors that fall outside the scope of the standard DRIs.