Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) Practice Exam

Adequate Intake (AI) is established as a scientific estimate of nutrient intake levels that are assumed to be adequate for healthy individuals when there is insufficient scientific evidence to determine a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). AIs are often set for nutrients where the specific requirements for the majority of the population cannot yet be established due to a lack of data. Thus, it serves as a guideline, ensuring that individuals consume enough of that nutrient for optimal health.

This distinction is crucial, as it highlights the AI's role in filling the knowledge gaps for dietary recommendations, especially for new or less-researched nutrients. By indicating a scientifically judged level of intake, AIs support nutritional adequacy, guiding dietary practices in instances where more precise values like RDAs cannot be provided.