Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)

Estimated average requirement is the level of daily intake for a specific nutrient that meets the nutritional requirements of 50% of all people without health conditions.

Summary

The Dietary Reference Intake framework, which is used to plan and assess diets in people without health conditions, includes several “reference values”. These include the estimated average requirement (EAR) as well as the recommended dietary allowance, adequate intake, and tolerable upper intake level.[1][2][3][4]

The EAR for a specific nutrient is the daily intake amount that is estimated to meet the known nutritional requirements of 50% (i.e., the average) of all people without health conditions.

⚠️ Caution: Estimated average requirement values are sometimes misunderstood

The amounts stated in EAR tables indicate total daily intake of that specific nutrient from all sources. That includes foods, drinks, supplements, and medications combined.

The EAR is considered to be the best estimate of a nutrient requirement for individuals or groups of people, and it is used to assess nutrient intake. For example, the EAR value of a specific nutrient helps assess the probability of whether a specific intake amount of that nutrient is adequate for the person being assessed. This information can help plan a nutritionally adequate diet for that person.

EAR values are also used to calculate recommended dietary allowance values. However, due to insufficient evidence, an EAR value has not been defined for all nutrients. In such cases, nutrients are assigned an adequate intake value.

The terminology used to describe an EAR can vary between countries. For example, in the EU, it is called the average requirement.[4]

EAR values for specific nutrients can also vary between countries and may change as new evidence emerges. While EAR values for some nutrients also depend on sex, age, and pregnancy,[1][2] an EAR value stated on food packaging typically refers to the EAR for non-pregnant adults ages 19 to 50.[5] For the food-based dietary guidelines across all countries in the United Nations, see here.

References

1.^Institute of Medicine (US) Subcommittee on Interpretation and Uses of Dietary Reference Intakes, Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference IntakesDietary Reference Intakes: Applications in Dietary Planning.(2003)
2.^Institute of Medicine (US) Subcommittee on Interpretation and Uses of Dietary Reference Intakes, Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference IntakesDRI Dietary Reference Intakes: Applications in Dietary Assessment.(2000)
4.^EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA)Scientific Opinion on principles for deriving and applying Dietary Reference Values.EFSA Journal.(2010 March)
5.^Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Use of Dietary Reference Intakes in Nutrition LabelingDietary Reference Intakes: Guiding Principles for Nutrition Labeling and Fortification.()