Council for Responsible Nutrition

Vitamin and Mineral Recommendations

Vitamins: Comparison of Current RDIs, New DRIs and ULs

VITAMIN	CURRENT RDI*	NEW DRI**	UL***
Vitamin A	5000 IU	900 mcg (3000 IU)	3000 mcg (10,000 IU)
Vitamin C	60 mg	90 mg	2000 mg
Vitamin D	400 IU (10 mcg)	15 mcg (600 IU)	50 mcg (2000 IU)
Vitamin E	30 IU (20 mg)	15 mg #	1000 mg
Vitamin K	80 mcg	120 mcg	ND
Thiamin	1.5 mg	1.2 mg	ND
Riboflavin	1.7 mg	1.3 mg	ND
Niacin	20 mg	16 mg	35 mg
Vitamin B-6	2 mg	1.7 mg	100 mg
Folate	400 mcg (0.4 mg)	400 mcg from food, 200 mcg synthetic ##	1000 mcg synthetic
Vitamin B-12	6 mcg	2.4 mcg ###	ND
Biotin	300 mcg	30 mcg	ND
Pantothenic acid	10 mg	5 mg	ND
Choline	Not established	550 mg	3500 mg
* The Reference Daily Intake (RDI) is the value established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in nutrition labeling. It was based initially on the highest 1968 Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for each nutrient, to assure that needs were met for all age groups. The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) are the most recent set of dietary recommendations established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, 1997-2001. They replace previous RDAs, and may be the basis for eventually updating the RDIs. The value shown here is the highest DRI for each nutrient. * The Upper Limit (UL) is the upper level of intake considered to be safe for use by adults, incorporating a safety factor. In some cases, lower ULs have been established for children. # Historical vitamin E conversion factors were amended in the DRI report, so that 15 mg is defined as the equivalent of 22 IU of natural vitamin E or 33 IU of synthetic vitamin E. ## It is recommended that women of childbearing age obtain 400 mcg of synthetic folic acid from fortified breakfast cereals or dietary supplements, in addition to dietary folate. ### It is recommended that people over 50 meet the B-12 recommendation through fortified foods or supplements, to improve bioavailability. ND Upper Limit not determined. No adverse effects observed from high intakes of the nutrient.