Define Nutrient Needs and Recommended Dietary Intake?

Table depicts growth of normal well-to-do Indian children. Their intake is the criteria to assess nutrient requirements till 10 years of age. In adolescence, maintenance and growth requirements cm be computed separately for energy and protein. For mineral requirements, accretion data has given important data. ICMR (1990) gives requirements of 4-6 years and 7-9 years categories.

After 10 years of age, boys and girls are separately categorized into three categories - 10-12 years, 13-15 years and 16-18 years - as illustrated in Table 15.2. The differences in their growth pattern and body composition warrant such a classification. Boys, as compared to girls, have higher lean body mass (LBM), skeletal mass and lower fat as a ratio of total body mass. This difference in body composition leads to differences in their nutrient needs as LBM has more metabolic activity than adipose.