Protein Recommendations Are a Moving Target: How to Actually Assess Adult Needs
By Bridget Storm MA, RD-AP, LDN, CNSC Protein needs in adults are more nuanced than a single number. This post reviews major protein recommendations, where they come from, and how to apply them in practice, with a balanced look at the strengths and limitations of the evidence. The RDA: A Starting Point, Not a Prescription The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 g/kg/day for adults. This value is designed to meet the needs of nearly all healthy individuals and prevent deficiency under typical conditions, not to define an “optimal” intake for every situation. Key assumptions behind the RDA include: The individual is generally healthy. Energy intake is adequate, so protein is not diverted to meet energy needs. There is no major metabolic stress (e.g., acute illness, trauma, surgery). In other words, 0.8 g/kg/day is a population-level minimum requirement, not a personalized target for all adults across all settings. National dietary surveys, includ...
