MINERALS // CALCIUM

Calcium Intake Recommendations

In 1993, the European Scientific Committee for Food set population reference intakes (PRI) for calcium in milligrams (mg) per day (39):

 Age    Males: mg/day Females: mg/day
 6–12 months 400 400
 1–3 years 400 400
 4–6 years 450 450
 7–10 years 550 550
 11–14 years 1,000 800
 15–17 years 1,000 800
 18 years and older 700 700
 Pregnant - 700
 Breast-feeding - 1,200

In 2010, the U.S. Institute of Medicine established a recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for calcium (56):

 Life Stage   Age  Males: (mg/day) Females: (mg/day)
 Infants 0–6 months 200 200
 Infants  6–12 months 260 260
 Children   1–3 years 700 700
 Children  4–8 years 1,000 1,000
 Children 9–13 years 1,300 1,300
 Adolescents 14–18 years 1,300 1,300
 Adults 19 - 51 years 1,000 1,000
 Adults 51 - 70 years 1,000 1,200
 Adults 71 years and older 1,200 1,200
 Pregnant and 
 lactating women
14 - 18 years - 1,300
 Pregnant and 
 lactating women
19 - 50 years - 1,000

For a detailed overview of recommended daily intakes (PRIs/RDAs) of vitamins and minerals for adults derived from different countries and organizations see PDF.

 

Authored by Dr Peter Engel in 2010, reviewed and updated by Dr Igor Bendik-Falconnier on 12.10.17