Food Science & Nutrition

According to the ICMR-NIN (2020) Nutrient Requirements and Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for Indians, the protein requirement for adult men and women (all activity levels: sedentary, moderate, and heavy) was revised to $0.83\text{ g/kg body weight/day}$ (based on an EAR of $0.66\text{ g/kg/day}$ plus $2\text{ SD}$).

• $1.0\text{ g/kg/day}$ was the older ICMR RDA guideline prior to the $2020$ revision.
• $0.95$ is not the official ICMR reference figure.
• $0.86$ is not the recommended adult female standard.
• $0.83\text{ g/kg body weight/day}$ is the official ICMR-NIN (2020) revised adult recommendation.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR-NIN) expert committee recommendation for Indian diets defines the physiological conversion ratio of dietary beta-carotene to retinol (Vitamin A) as $6 : 1$ (i.e. $6\,\mu\text{g}$ of dietary beta-carotene yields $1\,\mu\text{g}$ of retinol/Vitamin A).

• $12 : 1$ is the US IOM/FAO/WHO conversion standard ($1\text{ RAE} = 12\,\mu\text{g}$ beta-carotene).
• $11 : 1$ is not an established physiological standard.
• $8 : 1$ is an alternative factor tested in some European bioavailability studies.
• $6 : 1$ is the official Indian ICMR standard ratio.

Calculating energy contributions using Atwater physiological fuel values:

• Carbohydrate provides $4\text{ kcal/g} \implies 70\text{ g} \times 4\text{ kcal/g} = 280\text{ kcal}$ (III).
• Protein provides $4\text{ kcal/g} \implies 30\text{ g} \times 4\text{ kcal/g} = 120\text{ kcal}$ (IV).
• Fat (butter) provides $9\text{ kcal/g} \implies 15\text{ g} \times 9\text{ kcal/g} = 135\text{ kcal}$ (II).
• Fermentable dietary fibre provides approximately $2\text{ kcal/g} \implies 25\text{ g} \times 2\text{ kcal/g} = 50\text{ kcal}$ (V).