EFSA sets population reference intakes for protein

Rebecca Prescott9 Feb 2012

EFSA has published population reference intakes (PRIs) for protein, completing the latest stage of its work on dietary reference values (DRVs).

A PRI indicates the amount of an individual nutrient that the majority of people in a population need for good health depending on their age and sex. EFSA’s panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies set PRIs for protein for adults, infants and children, and pregnant and breast-feeding women, as follows:

  • Adults (including older adults) – 0.83g per kg of body weight per day.
  • Infants, children and adolescents – between 0.83g and 1.31g per kg of body weight per day depending on age.
  • Pregnant women – additional intake of 1g, 9g and 28g per day for the first, second and third trimesters respectively.
  • Breast-feeding women – additional intake of 19g per day during the first 6 months of lactation and 13g per day thereafter.
  • The panel also looked at several health outcomes that may be associated with protein intake – such as bone health, body weight, muscle mass and kidney function – but concluded that the available data were insufficient to derive PRIs based on these health outcomes.

The panel considers protein intake in the European population to be adequate for all population groups. According to collated national food consumption surveys, the average protein intake of adults in Europe is often at or above the PRI of 0.83g per kg of body weight per day (between 67-114g per day for men and between 59-102g per day for women).

The PRIs apply to mixed dietary protein from both animal and plant sources. The Panel notes that EFSA’s Comprehensive Food Consumption Database shows that the main sources of protein in European adult diets are meat and meat products, followed by grains/grain-based products and milk/dairy products.

The Scientific Opinion on protein published recently, follows a request from the European Commission for EFSA to update previous European advice on DRVs, taking into account new scientific evidence and recent recommendations issued at national and international level. Previously the Panel has published opinions establishing DRVs for carbohydrates, dietary fibre, fats and water.

This and earlier opinions on DRVs have been adopted by the panel after consultation with the scientific community and other stakeholders. The consultations ensure that EFSA benefits from the widest range of information, data and views to finalise the work and provide the most up-to-date, comprehensive advice to EU decision-makers, the EFSA said.

Source: EFSA