Iron: recommended daily intake
Reference values for iron across life-stage groups, from NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Iron.
8mg
men
18mg
women
Adults 19–50.
| Life stage | RDA / AI | UL | EAR | AMDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infants 0–6 months | 0.27mg (AI) | 40mg | - | - |
| Infants 7–12 months | 11mg (RDA) | - | - | - |
| Children 1–3 years | 7mg (RDA) | - | 3mg | - |
| Children 4–8 years | 10mg (RDA) | - | 4.1mg | - |
| Males 9–13 years | 8mg (RDA) | - | 5.9mg | - |
| Females 9–13 years | 8mg (RDA) | - | 5.7mg | - |
| Males 14–18 years | 11mg (RDA) | - | 7.7mg | - |
| Females 14–18 years | 15mg (RDA) | - | 7.9mg | - |
| Adult males 19–50 | 8mg (RDA) | 45mg | 6mg | - |
| Adult females 19–50 | 18mg (RDA) | 45mg | 8.1mg | - |
| Adult males 51+ | 8mg (RDA) | 45mg | 6mg | - |
| Adult females 51+ | 8mg (RDA) | 45mg | 5mg | - |
| Pregnancy (19–30) | 27mg (RDA) | 45mg | 22mg | - |
| Lactation (19–30) | 9mg (RDA) | 45mg | 6.5mg | - |
Notes
- Iron RDAs assume mixed-source diet; vegetarians may need ~1.8x the listed RDA.
- Pregnancy RDA applies across all trimesters.
Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Iron (snapshot 2026-04-30)