Here are the daily Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and Adequate Intakes (AIs) for calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus for both adult and pediatric age groups. These values are established by the Food and Nutrition Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Calcium
Calcium requirements peak during adolescence to support rapid bone growth and later in life for women to mitigate bone loss.
| Age Group | Recommended Amount (mg/day) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 6 months | 200 (AI) |
| 7 to 12 months | 260 (AI) |
| 1 to 3 years | 700 |
| 4 to 8 years | 1,000 |
| 9 to 18 years | 1,300 |
| 19 to 50 years | 1,000 |
| Men, 51 to 70 years | 1,000 |
| Women, 51 to 70 years | 1,200 |
| 71+ years | 1,200 |
Magnesium
Magnesium requirements vary by age and sex, with adult men generally requiring higher daily amounts than women.
| Age Group | Male (mg/day) | Female (mg/day) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 6 months | 30 (AI) | 30 (AI) |
| 7 to 12 months | 75 (AI) | 75 (AI) |
| 1 to 3 years | 80 | 80 |
| 4 to 8 years | 130 | 130 |
| 9 to 13 years | 240 | 240 |
| 14 to 18 years | 410 | 360 |
| 19 to 30 years | 400 | 310 |
| 31+ years | 420 | 320 |
Phosphorus
Phosphorus requirements are highest during adolescence (ages 9–18) to coincide with rapid bone development.
| Age Group | Recommended Amount (mg/day) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 6 months | 100 (AI) |
| 7 to 12 months | 275 (AI) |
| 1 to 3 years | 460 |
| 4 to 8 years | 500 |
| 9 to 18 years | 1,250 |
| 19+ years | 700 |
(Note: 'AI' stands for Adequate Intake, which is used for infants when there is not enough scientific evidence to establish an exact RDA).
