Council for Responsible Nutrition

Vitamin and Mineral Recommendations

Minerals: Historical Comparison of RDIs, RDAs and DRIs, 1968 to Present

NUTRIENT	RDI*	1968 RDA**	1974 RDA**	1980 RDA**	1989 RDA**	DRIs***
Calcium	1000 mg	1300 mg	1200 mg	1200 mg	1200 mg	1300 mg
Phosphorus	1000 mg	1300 mg	1200 mg	1200 mg	1200 mg	1250 mg (700 adult)
Iron	18 mg	18 mg	18 mg	18 mg	15 mg	18 mg
Iodine	150 mcg	150 mcg	150 mcg	150 mcg	150 mcg	150 mcg
Magnesium	400 mg	400 mg	400 mg	400 mg	400 mg	420 mg
Zinc	15 mg	10-15 mg	15 mg	15 mg	15 mg	11 mg
Selenium	70 mcg	--	--		70 mcg	55 mcg
Copper	2 mg	--	--	2 - 3 mg	1.5 - 3 mg	0.9 mg
Manganese	2 mg	--	2.5-7 mg	2.5-5 mg	2 - 5 mg	2.3 mg
Chromium	120 mcg	--	--	50-200 mcg	50-200 mcg	35 mcg
Molybdenum	75 mcg	--	45-500 mg	150-500 mcg	75-250 mcg	45 mcg
* 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 RDAs were established and periodically revised by the Food and Nutrition Board. Value shown is the highest RDA for each nutrient, in the year indicated for each revision. * 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.