Annex 1. Nutritional requirements

This annex contains a number of tables that indicate the nutritional requirements (for energy, protein, and micronutrients) for different age and sex groups and overall figures for whole populations with typical demographic and anthropometric profiles of developing countries and industrialized countries.

The complete list of tables is as follows:

Table A 1.1	Energy requirements for emergency-affected populations: developing country profile (demography and anthropometry)
Table A 1.2	Energy requirements for emergency-affected populations: industrialized country profile (demography and anthropometry)
Table A 1.3	Mean energy requirements and recommended adjustments for different activity levels, environmental temperatures, and food losses during transport
Table A 1.4	Protein requirements (safe levels of intake): developing country profile
Table A 1.5	Protein requirements (safe levels of intake): industrialized country profile
Table A 1.6	Vitamin requirements (safe levels of intake): developing and industrialized countries
Table A 1.7	Mineral requirements (safe levels of intake): developing and industrialized countries

Table A1.1 Energy requirements for emergency-affected populations: developing country profile (demography and anthropometry)^a,b

Age (years)	Male		Femalec		Male + femalec
	% of total population	Energy requirement (kcalth)	% of total population	Energy requirement (kcalth)	% of total population	Energy requirement (kcalth)
0	1.31	850	1.27	780	2.59	820
1d	1.26	1250	1.20	1190	2.46	1220
2d	1.25	1430	1.20	1330	2.45	1380
3d	1.25	1560	1.19	1440	2.44	1500
4d	1.24	1690	1.19	1540	2.43	1620
0-4	6.32	1320	6.05	1250	12.37	1290
5-9	6.00	1980	5.69	1730	11.69	1860
10-14	5.39	2370	5.13	2040	10.53	2210
15-19	4.89	2700	4.64	2120	9.54	2420
20-59e	24.80	2460	23.82	1990	48.63	2230
³60e	3.42	2010	3.82	1780	7.24	1890
Pregnant			2.40	285 (extra)	2.40	285 (extra)
Lactating			2.60	500 (extra)	2.60	500 (extra)
Whole population	50.84	2250	49.16	1910		2080

^a Energy requirements derived from: Energy and protein requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1985 (Technical Report Series, No. 724). Population data (for mid-1995) from United Nations Population Division.

^b The requirements shown in this table do not take account of the varying fibre content, digestibility, and complex-carbohydrate composition of the diet. In developing countries, the diet usually contains a relatively high proportion of fibre and less-available carbohydrate. The carbohydrate content of foods may be expressed in terms of its various components (starches, sugars, fibre, cellulose, lignins, etc.) or simply as the calculated "difference" between total weight and the sum of other components (fat, protein, minerals, and water). If the Atwater factor (4 kcal_th/g) is applied to carbohydrate by difference, the real energy available in the food should be reduced by 5%, i.e. the "requirement" for this type of diet should be increased by 5%. Thus the energy requirement indicated in this table for the whole population (men, women, and both combined) should be increased by 100 kcal_th. The correction factor is not applicable if the energy content of food is expressed in terms of true available energy.

^c Adult weight: males 60 kg, females 52 kg.

^d Population estimates for years 1, 2, 3, and 4 are not available from the United Nations; estimates were therefore made by interpolation from the UN data for 0 and 5 years.

^e Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the rate of energy expenditure of the body when at complete rest (e.g. during sleep); the figures given here for energy requirements are for "light" activity levels (1.55 x BMR for males, 1.56 x BMR for females). For adjustments for moderate and heavy activity, see Table A1.3.

Table A1.2 Energy requirements for emergency-affected populations: industrialized country profile (demography and anthropometry)^a,b

Age (years)	Malec		Femalec		Male + femalec
	% of total population	Energy requirement (Kcalth)	% of total population	Energy requirement (Kcalth)	% of total population	Energy requirement (Kcalth)
0	0.62	800	0.59	740	1.22	820
1d	0.62	1200	0.60	1140	1.22	1220
2d	0.63	1410	0.60	1310	1.22	1380
3d	0.63	1560	0.60	1440	1.23	1500
4d	0.65	1690	0.62	1540	1.27	1620
0-4	3.16	1330	3.00	1240	6.16	1290
5-9	3.42	1980	3.26	1760	6.67	1860
10-14	3.48	2390	3.33	2050	6.81	2210
15-19	3.49	2780	3.34	2160	6.83	2420
20-59e	27.56	2590	27.68	2090	55.24	2230
³60e	7.44	2160	10.84	1880	18.28	1890
Pregnant			1.2	200 (extra)	1.2	200 (extra)
Lactating			0.3	500 (extra)	0.3	500 (extra)
Whole population	48.55	2400	51.45	1980		2180

^a Energy requirements derived from: Energy and protein requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1985 (Technical Report Series, No. 724). Population data (for mid-1995) from United Nations Population Division.

^b The requirements shown in this table do not take account of the varying fibre content, digestibility, and complex-carbohydrate composition of the diet. In industrialized countries, the diet usually contains a relatively lower proportion of fibre than in developing countries. The carbohydrate content of foods may be expressed in terms of its various components (starches, sugars, fibre, cellulose, lignins, etc.) or simply as the calculated "difference" between total weight and the sum of other components (fat, protein, minerals, and water). If the Atwater factor (4 kcal_th/g) is applied to carbohydrate by difference, the real energy available in the food should be reduced by 2.5%, i.e. the "requirement" for this type of diet should be increased by 2.5%. Thus the energy requirement indicated in this table for the whole population (men, women and both combined) should be increased by 50 kcal_th The correction factor is not applicable if the energy content of food is expressed in terms of true available energy.

^c Adult weight: males 67 kg, females 55 kg.

^d Population estimates for years 1, 2, 3, and 4 are not available from the United Nations; estimates were therefore made by interpolation from the UN data for 0 and 5 years.

^e Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the rate of energy expenditure of the body when at complete rest (e.g. during sleep); the figures given here for energy requirements are for "light" activity levels (1.55 x BMR for males, 1.56 x BMR for females). For adjustments for moderate and heavy activity, see Table A1.3.

Table A1.3 Mean energy requirements and recommended adjustments for different activity levels, environmental temperatures, and food losses during transport^a

		Developing country	Industrialized country
Mean energy requirement (kcalth)		2080	2180
Adjustment to energy requirement (kcalth) for activity level:
	Moderateb
	Adultc males	+360	+370
	Adultc females	+100	+105
	Whole population (adults + children)	+140	+180
	Heavyb
	Adultc males	+850	+890
	Adultc females	+330	+340
	Whole population	+350	+460
Adjustment to energy requirement (kcalth) for mean daily temperature:
	20°C	-
	15°C	+100
	10°C	+200
	5°C	+300
	0°C	+400
Adjustment to energy requirement (kcalth) for food losses in transport:
	Country with port	+5%
	Landlocked country	+10%

^a Data derived from: Energy and protein requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1985 (Technical Report Series, No. 724).

^b Energy requirements for moderate activity are calculated as 1.78 x BMR for males and 1.64 x BMR for females, and for heavy activity as 2.10 x BMR for males and 1.82 x BMR for females.

^c Age ³18 years.

Table A1.4 Protein requirements: developing country profile^a

Age (years)	Maleb			Femaleb			Male and femaleb
	% of total population	Reference proteinc (g/day)	Mixed cereal/pulse dietd (g/day)	% of total population	Reference proteinc (g/day)	Mixed cereal/pulse dietd (g/day)	% of total population	Reference proteinc (g/day)	Mixed cereal/pulse dietd (g/day)
0	1.31	12.9	12.9e	1.27	11.9	11.9e	2.59	12.4	12.4e
1f	1.26	14.1	23.7	1.20	13.3	22.3	2.46	13.7	23.0
2f	1.25	15.5	26.2	1.20	15.0	25.2	2.45	15.2	25.5
3f	1.25	16.9	28.4	1.19	16.5	27.7	2.44	16.7	28.1
4f	1.24	18.5	31.1	1.19	17.3	29.1	2.43	17.9	30.1
0-4	6.32	15.6	26.2	6.05	14.7	24.7	12.37	15.2	25.5
5-9	6.00	24.3	33.3	5.69	23.9	32.7	11.69	24.1	33.0
10-14	5.39	39.0	49.1	5.13	40.4	50.9	10.53	39.7	50.0
15-19	4.89	52.2	61.6	4.64	43.8	51.7	9.54	48.0	56.6
20-59	24.80	45.0	53.1	23.82	39.0	46.0	48.63	42.0	49.6
60+	3.42	45.0	53.1	3.82	39.0	46.0	7.24	42.0	49.6
Pregnant				2.4	6.0 (extra)	7.1 (extra)	2.4	6.0 (extra)	7.1 (extra)
Lactating:
1st 6 m				1.0	16.0 (extra)	18.9 (extra)	1.0	16.0 (extra)	18.9 (extra)
2nd 6 m				0.8	12.0 (extra)	14.2 (extra)	0.8	12.0 (extra)	14.2 (extra)
over 12 m				0.8	11.0 (extra)	13.0 (extra)	0.8	11.0 (extra)	13.0 (extra)
Whole population	50.84	39.0	47.8	49.16	35.2	43.2		37.1	45.6

^a Requirements derived from: Energy and protein requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Geneva. World Health Organization. 1985 (Technical Report Series, No. 724).

^b Adult weight: males 60 kg, females 52 kg.

^c Reference protein is protein with the quality and digestibility of milk or egg.

^d Mixed cereal/pulse diet includes cereals, pulses, and vegetables as, for instance, in the rural Tunisian diet.

^e Assuming fully breast-fed.

^f Population estimates for years 1, 2, 3, and 4 are not available from the United Nations; estimates were therefore made by interpolation from the UN data for 0 and 5 years.

Table A1.5 Protein requirements: industrialized country profile^a

Age (years)	Maleb			Femaleb			Male and femaleb
	% of total population	Reference proteinc (g/day)	Mixed cereal/pulse dietd (g/day)	% of total population	Reference proteinc (g/day)	Mixed cereal/pulse dietd (g/day)	% of total population	Reference proteinc (g/day)	Mixed cereal/pulse dietd (g/day)
0	0.62	12.9	21.7e	0.59	11.9	20.0e	1.22	12.3	20.7e
1f	0.62	14.1	23.7	0.60	13.3	22.3	1.22	14.0	23.5
2f	0.63	15.5	26.0	0.60	15.0	25.2	1.22	15.5	25.9
3f	0.63	16.9	28.4	0.60	16.5	27.7	1.23	16.7	28.1
4f	0.65	18.5	31.1	0.62	17.3	28.6	1.27	17.9	30.1
0-4	3.16	15.7	26.1	3.00	14.9	25.0	6.16	15.3	25.6
5-9	3.42	24.4	33.4	3.26	24.1	33.0	6.67	24.3	40.6
10-14	3.48	42.1	53.0	3.33	41.5	52.3	6.81	41.8	52.7
15-19	3.49	54.4	64.2	3.34	44.7	52.7	6.83	49.7	58.6
20-59	27.56	50.2	59.2	27.68	41.2	48.6	55.24	45.9	54.2
60+	7.44	50.2	59.2	10.84	41.2	48.68	18.28	44.9	53.0
Pregnant				1.2	6.0 (extra)	7.1 (extra)	1.2	6.0 (extra)	7.1 (extra)
Lactating:
1st 6 m				0.2e	16.0 (extra)	18.9 (extra)	0.2e	16.0 (extra)	18.9 (extra)
2nd 6 m				0.1	12.0 (extra)	14.2 (extra)	0.1	12.0 (extra)	14.2 (extra)
Whole population	48.55	45.9	55.1	51.45	39.5	53.9		42.4	54.4

^a Requirements derived from: Energy and protein requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Geneva. World Health Organization. 1985 (Technical Report Series, No. 724).

^b Adult weight: males 67 kg, females 55 kg.

^c Reference protein is protein with the quality and digestibility of milk or egg.

^d Mixed cereal/pulse diet includes cereals, pulses, and vegetables as, for instance, in the rural Tunisian diet.

^e Assuming 3 months of breast-feeding.

^f Population estimates for years 1, 2, 3, and 4 are not available from the United Nations; estimates were therefore made by interpolation from the UN data for 0 and 5 years.

Table A1.6 Vitamin requirements (safe levels of intake): developing and industrialized countries^a

Age (years)	Vitamin Ab (µg retinol)	Vitamin Dc (µg calciferol)	Thiamined,e (mg)	Riboflavind,e (mg)	Niacin equivalentsd,e (mg)	Folic acidb (µg)	Vitamin B12b (µg)	Ascorbic acid (mg)
0	350	10.0	0.3	0.5	4.2	24	0.1	20
1	400	10.0	0.5	0.8	6.4	50	0.45	20
2	400	10.0	0.55	0.9	7.5	50	0.53	20
3	400	10.0	0.60	1.0	8.2	50	0.61	20
4	400	10.0	0.65	1.1	8.9	50	0.69	20
0-4	390	10.0	0.5	0.8	7.1	45	0.50	20
5-9	400	2.5	0.75	1.2	10.3	80	0.82	20
10-14 M	550	2.5	0.95	1.6	13.1	150	1.0	25
10-14 F	550	2.5	0.8	1.35	11.3	130	1.0	25
10-14 M+F	550	2.5	0.9	1.5	12.2	140	1.0	25
15-19 M	600	2.5	1.1	1.8	15.3	200	1.0	30
15-19 F	500	2.5	0.9	1.4	11.9	170	1.0	30
15-19 M+F	550	2.5	1.0	1.6	13.6	185	1.0	30
20-59 M	600	2.5	1.0	1.7	14.5	200	1.0	30
20-59 F	500	2.5	0.8	1.4	11.5	170	1.0	30
20-59 M+F	570	2.5	0.9	1.55	12.9	185	1.0	30
60+ M	600	3.2	0.9	1.4	11.9	200	1.0	30
60+ F	500	3.2	0.75	1.2	10.3	170	1.0	30
60+ M+F	540	3.2	0.8	1.3	10.9	185	1.0	30
Pregnant	100 (extra)	7.5 (extra)	0.1 (extra)	0.1 (extra)	1.1 (extra)	250 (extra)	0.4 (extra)	20 (extra)
Lactating	350 (extra)	7.5 (extra)	0.2 (extra)	0.3 (extra)	2.7 (extra)	100 (extra)	0.3 (extra)	20 (extra)
Whole population	500	3.2-3.8f	0.9	1.4	12.0	160	0.9	28

^a Based on Table 1 of Passmore R et al. Handbook on human nutritional requirements. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1974 (WHO Monograph Series, No. 61).

^b Data derived from: Requirements of vitamin A, iron, folate and vitamin B12. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation. Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1985 (FAO Food and Nutrition Series, No. 23).

^c Data derived from: Requirements of ascorbic acid, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate and iron, Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Group. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1970 (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 470), and Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1970 (FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, No. 47).

^d Data derived from: Requirements of vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavine and niacin. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Group. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1967 (WHO Technical Report Series No. 362), and Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1965 (FAO Food and Nutrition Series, No. 8).

^e B vitamin requirements are proportional to energy intake and are calculated as follows:

thiamine:	0.4 mg per 1000 kcalth ingested
riboflavin:	0.6 mg per 1000 kcalth ingested
niacin equivalents:	6.6 mg per 1000 kcalth ingested

^f The higher figure is for developing countries because of the larger proportion of children under 5 years whose requirement is greater.

Table A1.7 Daily dietary mineral requirements (safe levels of intake): developing and industrialized countries^a

Age (years)	Calciumb (g)	Iron (mg), bioavailabilityc				Iodine d (µg)
		very low (<5%)	low (5-9%)	moderate (10-18%)	high (>19%)
0	0.5-0.6	24	13	6	4	50-90
1	0.4-0.5	15	8	4	3	90
2	0.4-0.5	16	8	4	3	90
3	0.4-0.5	17	9	5	3	90
4	0.4-0.5	18	9	5	3	90
0-4	0.4-0.5	18	9	5	3	90
5-9	0.4-0.5	29	16	8	4	110
10-14 M	0.6-0.7	45	24	12	7	140
10-14 F	0.6-0.7	50	27	13	8	140
10-14 M+F	0.6-0.7	47	26	12.5	7.5	140
15-19 M	0.5-0.6	28	15	10	7	150
15-19 F	0.5-0.6	60	32	16	10	150
15-19 M+F	0.5-0.6	44	24	12	8.5	150
20-59 M	0.4-0.5	28	15	8	5	150
20-59 F	0.4-0.5	59	32	16	11	150
20-59 M+F	0.4-0.5	43	23	12	8	150
60 +	0.4-0.5	26	15	7	4.5	150
Pregnant	0.6-0.7	120-240e	60-120e	30-60e	20-50e	50
(latter half)	(extra)	(extra)	(extra)	(extra)	(extra)	(extra)
Lactating	0.6-0.7	33	17	9	6	50
(first 6m)	(extra)					(extra)
Postmenopausal	0.4-0.5	26	15	6	4	150
Whole population	0.45-0.55	41	22	11	7	150

^a Sources:

Calcium requirements. Report of a FAO/WHO Expert Committee. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1962 (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 230).

Requirements of vitamin A, iron, folate and vitamin B₁₂ Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation. Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1988.

De Maeyer EM et al. Preventing and controlling iron deficiency anaemia through primary health care. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1989.

Trace elements in human nutrition and health. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1996.

^b The second figure is for industrialized countries and represents intake levels to which the population is accustomed; the first is for developing countries, where body weight is lower and the population is adapted to lower levels of calcium intake that apparently do not give rise to disabilities.

^c Iron requirements are calculated as follows:

very low:	4% (diets as in south Asia)
low:	7.5% (diets as in developing countries)
moderate:	15% (diets as in middle-income countries)
high:	22% (diets as in industrialized countries).

^d The lower figure is for breast-fed infants, the higher for infants fed on breast-milk substitutes.

^e The additional iron needed in the course of a pregnancy is about 1 gram. Some of this can come from the body's iron stores. However, in most cases these extra needs cannot be met from dietary sources, and iron supplementation is necessary. This is particularly important when bioavailability from the diet is poor.