Adequate Intake (AI)

TimC00k

I was just browsing through some of the posts and noticed that the RDs have said in some cases, the amount of nutrient required is not the RDA, but rather an AI. In one example, potassium, the post said that the RD encourages people in her practise to strive for 75% of the AI.

I've been struggling to reach the AI for potassium myself.

I'm just wondering if when looking at the food diary, is there any way for us to tell which suggested nutrient amounts are an RDA and which ones are an AI?

Thank you

Karen_Cronometer

Hello @TimC00k

AIs are used in the place of RDAs when we don't have enough research and evidence to set an RDA. Often, the AI is based off of looking at what the average healthy person eats and assuming that if they are doing fine, this level of intake is assumed to be enough.

We do not specify which nutrients have RDAs and which have AIs, but you can learn more about the dietary reference intakes here: https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dietary-reference-intakes

Best,

Susan_RD_101

Hi @TimC00k

I'm the RD that made the comment about potassium. If you have any other nutrition questions, please don't hesitate to ask!