Optimizing Protein Intake in Adults: Interpretation and Application of the Recommended Dietary Allowance Compared with the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review and expert commentary without systematic review methodology.
PubMed 28298271 · doi:10.3945/an.116.013821
What was done
The authors conducted a conceptual review evaluating the derivation, limitations, and practical applications of the adult Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA, 0.8 g/kg/day) versus the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR, 10–35% of energy) for protein in adults aged 18 years and older.
What was found
The abstract reports no primary experimental data or quantitative effect estimates. It notes that the adult RDA of 0.8 g/kg was derived over 70 years ago to prevent nitrogen deficiency rather than optimize health. The authors report that the lower end of the AMDR corresponds to higher protein intake than the RDA and that recent evidence indicates health benefits from intakes exceeding the RDA, particularly in older adults.
Why it matters
This review clarifies that meeting the RDA only prevents deficiency, encouraging practitioners to use the broader AMDR framework to target higher protein intakes for functional health benefits.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks a systematic search protocol, meta-analytic pooling, and risk-of-bias assessments. Specific quantitative intake targets and primary outcome metrics are not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight.