UK Reference Nutrient Intakes for protein
The Reference Nutrient Intake is a daily amount that is enough or more than enough for 97.5% of the population.
| |
Age
|
Grams of protein required per day
|
Children
|
0-12 months
|
12.5-14.9
|
| |
1-3 years
|
14.5
|
| |
4-10 years
|
19.7-28.3
|
Males
|
11-14 yrs
|
42.1
|
| |
15-18 yrs
|
55.2
|
| |
19-50 yrs
|
55.5
|
| |
50+ yrs
|
55.3
|
Females
|
11-14 yrs
|
41.2
|
| |
15-18 yrs
|
45.4
|
| |
19-50 yrs
|
45
|
| |
50+ yrs
|
46.5
|
| |
During pregnancy
|
extra 6g/day
|
| |
Breast feeding 0-6mths
|
extra 11g/day
|
| |
Breast feeding 6+ mths
|
extra 8g/day
|
The RNIs are calculated based on milk or egg protein - i.e. protein with complete digestibility.
Protein requirements for vegan diets may be slightly higher to allow for differences in digestibility between plant and animal protein.
The report on which the UK RNIs are based recommends that, “for diets based on coarse, whole-grain cereals and vegetables, a correction for digestibility of 85% may be applied, and for those based upon refined cereals the correction is 95%”.5