U. S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA Consumer: March 1984
Revised: April 1990


Return to main article, All About Eating for Two .

Recommended Daily Dietary Allowances for Women
(Revised 1989)

From the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council

                                                                        
                                    Fat-Soluble Vitamins                        
 Age    Weight  Height    Protein   Vit. A   Vit. D   Vit. E   Vit. K           
(years) (lbs)  (inches)   (g)       (mcg)    (mcg)    (mg)     (mcg)            
                                                                                
11-14    101    62         46        800       10       8        45             
15-18    120    64         44        800       10       8        55             
19-24    120    65         44        800       10       8        60             
25-50    120    64         44        800        5       8        65             
Pregnant                   60        800       10      10        65             
Lactating                                                                       
   1st 6 months            65       1300       10      12        65             
   2nd 6 months            62       1300       10      11        65             

                                                                           
                       Water-Soluble Vitamins                                   
 Age   Weight  Height  Vit.C  Thia-   Ribo-   Niacin  Vit.B6  Folate  Vit.B12   
(years) (lbs) (inches) (mg)   mine    flavin   (mg)    (mg)    (mcg)   (mcg)    
                              (mg)     (mg)                                     
11-14    101    62      50     1.1     1.3      15     1.4     150     2.0      
15-18    120    64      60     1.1     1.3      15     1.5     180     2.0      
19-24    120    65      60     1.1     1.3      15     1.6     180     2.0      
25-50    120    64      60     1.1     1.3      15     1.6     180     2.0      
Pregnant                70     1.5     1.6      17     2.2     400     2.2      
Lactating                                                                       
   1st 6 months         95     1.6     1.8      20     2.1     280     2.1      
   2nd 6 months         90     1.6     1.7      20     2.1     260     2.1      

                                                                           
                         Minerals                                               
 Age    Weight  Height   Cal-   Phos-    Mag-    Iron*  Zinc  Iodine  Selen-    
(years) (lbs)  (inches)  cium   phorus   nesium  (mg)   (mg)  (mcg)    ium      
                         (mg)   (mg)     (mg)                         (mcg)     
11-14    101    62       1200   1200     280      15     12    150     45       
15-18    120    64       1200   1200     300      15     12    150     50       
19-24    120    65       1200   1200     280      15     12    150     55       
25-50    120    64        800    800     280      15     12    150     55       
Pregnant                 1200   1200     320      30     15    175     65       
Lactating                                                                       
   1st 6 months          1200   1200     355      15     19    200     75       
   2nd 6 months          1200   1200     340      15     16    200     75       

Key: g = grams; mcg = micrograms; mg = milligrams

* The increased requirement during pregnancy cannot be met by the iron content of typical American diets nor by the existing iron stores of many women; therefore, the use of 30 to 60 mg of supplemental iron is recommended. Iron needs during lactation are not substantially different from those of non-pregnant women, but continued supplementaion for mothers of two to three months after parturition is advisable to replenish stores depleted by pregnancy.


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