Article Figures & Data
Tables
Age 1997 NAS3 1994 NIH2 0 to 6 mo† 210 400 6 mo to 1 y† 270 600 1 through 3 y 500 800 4 through 8 y 800 800 (4–5 y) 800–1200 (6–8 y) 9 through 18 y 1300 800–1200 (9–10 y) 1200–1500 (11–18 y) * Recommended intakes were provided in different forms by each source cited. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released Recommended Dietary Allowances until 1997. In 1997, it chose to use the term adequate intake for the recommendations for calcium intake but indicated that these values were to be used as Recommended Dietary Allowances. The NIH Consensus Conference did not specify a specific term but indicated that these values were the “optimal” intake levels. Dietary recommendations by the NAS are set to meet the needs of 95% of the identified population of healthy subjects. The NAS guideline should be the primary guideline utilized.
↵† For infant values, the 1994 NIH Consensus Conference indicated values for formula-fed infants, whereas the 1997 NAS report used the infant fed human milk as the standard.
Food Serving Size Calcium Content Milk† 1 cup 240 mL 300 mg White beans ½ cup 110 g 113 mg Broccoli cooked ½ cup 71 g 35 mg Broccoli raw 1 cup 71 g 35 mg Cheddar cheese 1.5 oz 42 g 300 mg Low-fat yogurt 8 oz 240 g 300–415 mg Spinach cooked‡ ½ cup 90 g 120 mg Spinach raw‡ 1½ cup 90 g 120 mg Calcium-fortified orange juice 1 cup 240 mL 300 mg Orange 1 medium 1 medium 50 mg Sardines or salmon with bones 20 sardines 240 g 50 mg Sweet potatoes ½ cup mashed 160 44