How Neutrien sets nutrition targets
We uses established nutrition reference values to provide practical daily targets and ranges.
Our targets are based primarily on guidance from:
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Dietary Reference Values
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM): Dietary Reference Intakes
World Health Organization (WHO): guidance for sugars and dietary fats
Depending on the nutrient, your target may take into account your age, sex, body weight, and planned daily energy intake.
These values are intended as general nutrition and wellness guidance for healthy people. They are not a diagnosis, a treatment plan, or a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Individual needs can differ, particularly during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with certain medical conditions, or when a healthcare professional has given you specific dietary instructions.
Understanding your range
For some nutrients, Neutrien shows up to three reference points:
Lower reference
A practical lower boundary for daily intake. When an established lower intake threshold is available, we use it. When only an Adequate Intake is available, Neutrien may use 80% of that value as a practical lower tracking boundary.
A lower reference is not a deficiency threshold. Consuming less than it on an individual day does not mean that you are deficient.
Suggested target
The main value Neutrien suggests aiming around. Depending on the nutrient, this is generally based on an RDA, PRI, or Adequate Intake established by NASEM or EFSA.
Upper reference
An upper intake boundary based on an established Tolerable Upper Intake Level or another recognized health guideline where one exists.
The upper reference is not a target to reach, and it should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every intake below it is appropriate for every person.
Some upper limits apply specifically to supplements or fortified foods rather than nutrients naturally present in food. These cases are identified below.
If no well-established reference value exists, Neutrien may show the nutrient without suggesting a target.
Carbohydrates and fiber
Net carbohydrates
Neutrien tracks net carbohydrates but does not assign a universal daily nutrient target to them.
There is no standard NASEM or EFSA dietary reference intake specifically for "net carbohydrates" that can be applied in the same way as vitamin or mineral targets.
Fiber
Your fiber target is based on an intake of approximately 14 g per 1,000 kcal of daily energy, consistent with established dietary reference guidance.
Because fiber needs scale partly with food and energy intake, the amount shown by Neutrien can change with your planned daily energy intake.
Primary basis: NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes.
Starch
Neutrien tracks starch but does not provide a specific daily target.
Starch contributes to total carbohydrate intake, but there is no generally established standalone daily requirement for starch itself.
Total sugars
Neutrien tracks total sugars but does not set a universal target or upper boundary for total sugar.
Naturally occurring sugars in foods such as fruit and dairy are included in total sugar, which is why total sugar is treated differently from added or free sugars.
Added sugars
Neutrien uses an upper reference based on guidance to keep added or free sugars below approximately 10% of total daily energy intake.
WHO guidance specifically refers to free sugars, while U.S. dietary guidance commonly refers to added sugars. These terms overlap but are not identical, so Neutrien uses this value as a practical upper tracking guideline rather than an exact physiological requirement.
Primary basis: World Health Organization guidance on free sugars and U.S. dietary guidance on added sugars.
Amino acids
Amino acid targets are primarily based on NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes for indispensable amino acids.
For most of these amino acids, targets scale with body weight, so the amount shown by Neutrien can change when your recorded body weight changes.
Histidine
Your histidine target is based on the NASEM body-weight-based dietary reference intake for indispensable amino acids.
The suggested target is approximately 14 mg per kg of body weight per day.
Isoleucine
Your isoleucine target is based on NASEM dietary reference values and scales with body weight.
The suggested target is approximately 19 mg/kg/day.
Leucine
Your leucine target is based on the NASEM dietary reference intake and scales with body weight.
The suggested target is approximately 42 mg/kg/day.
Lysine
Your lysine target is based on the NASEM dietary reference intake and scales with body weight.
The suggested target is approximately 38 mg/kg/day.
Threonine
Your threonine target is based on the NASEM dietary reference intake and scales with body weight.
The suggested target is approximately 20 mg/kg/day.
Tryptophan
Your tryptophan target is based on the NASEM dietary reference intake and scales with body weight.
The suggested target is approximately 5 mg/kg/day.
Valine
Your valine target is based on the NASEM dietary reference intake and scales with body weight.
The suggested target is approximately 24 mg/kg/day.
Methionine and cysteine
NASEM establishes a combined requirement for methionine and cysteine rather than independent physiological requirements for each nutrient.
For tracking purposes, Neutrien divides the combined reference amount between methionine and cysteine.
Approximately 66% is allocated to methionine and 34% to cysteine.
This split is a Neutrien calculation convention used to make the two nutrients individually trackable. It should not be interpreted as an official NASEM recommendation that everyone requires those exact proportions.
Phenylalanine and tyrosine
NASEM establishes a combined requirement for phenylalanine and tyrosine.
For individual tracking, Neutrien allocates approximately 55% of the combined reference to phenylalanine and 45% to tyrosine.
This split is an implementation convention rather than a separate official physiological requirement for each amino acid.
Dietary fats
Monounsaturated fat
Neutrien tracks monounsaturated fat but does not assign a universal daily target.
There is no established standalone RDA or PRI for total monounsaturated fat.
Polyunsaturated fat
Neutrien tracks total polyunsaturated fat but does not assign a single universal target to the category as a whole.
Targets are instead provided for specific essential fatty acids such as omega-3 ALA and omega-6 fats.
Omega-3 fats
Your total omega-3 target combines reference values for:
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
EPA
DHA
ALA recommendations are based on NASEM and EFSA guidance, while EFSA provides a combined reference intake for EPA and DHA.
Omega-3 ALA
ALA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid.
Neutrien compares age- and sex-based NASEM Adequate Intakes with EFSA's energy-based reference value of approximately 0.5% of total energy intake.
Your displayed target therefore may depend on both your personal characteristics and planned energy intake.
Primary basis: NASEM Adequate Intake and EFSA Dietary Reference Values for fats.
Omega-3 EPA
EFSA provides a recommendation of approximately 250 mg/day for EPA and DHA combined, rather than separate physiological requirements for EPA and DHA.
To make individual tracking possible, Neutrien currently allocates half of this combined amount to EPA.
The resulting EPA target is therefore a tracking allocation, not an official EFSA recommendation for EPA alone.
Omega-3 DHA
EFSA provides a recommendation of approximately 250 mg/day for EPA and DHA combined.
Neutrien currently allocates half of this combined amount to DHA for individual tracking.
The DHA value should therefore be understood as a tracking allocation rather than a separate official DHA requirement.
Omega-6 fats
Your omega-6 target is based on NASEM Adequate Intake values and EFSA guidance for linoleic acid.
EFSA expresses its reference as approximately 4% of total energy intake, so your target can vary with your planned energy intake.
Saturated fat
Neutrien treats saturated fat as an upper-limit nutrient, rather than something you need to reach a minimum intake for.
The upper reference is based on WHO guidance recommending that saturated fat provide less than 10% of total daily energy.
Primary basis: World Health Organization saturated-fat guidance.
Trans fat
Neutrien treats trans fat as an upper-limit nutrient.
The upper reference is based on WHO guidance recommending that trans fat provide less than 1% of total daily energy.
Lower intake is generally preferable.
Primary basis: World Health Organization trans-fat guidance.
Vitamins
Vitamin A
Your vitamin A target is based primarily on age- and sex-specific NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes.
The upper reference applies specifically to preformed vitamin A, such as retinol, and should not be interpreted as an equivalent upper limit for carotenoids such as beta-carotene from ordinary foods.
Primary basis: NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes and EFSA upper-intake guidance.
Vitamin B1: Thiamin
Your thiamin target is based on NASEM and EFSA reference values.
EFSA expresses thiamin needs partly in relation to energy intake, so your target can also reflect your planned daily energy intake.
Primary basis: NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes and EFSA Dietary Reference Value for thiamin.
Vitamin B2: Riboflavin
Your riboflavin target is based on established NASEM and EFSA dietary reference values, adjusted where applicable for age and sex.
No established upper intake limit is used by Neutrien for riboflavin.
Vitamin B3: Niacin
Your niacin target is based on NASEM and EFSA reference values. EFSA expresses niacin requirements partly in relation to energy intake.
The upper reference applies primarily to nicotinic acid and nicotinamide from supplements and fortified foods, rather than naturally occurring niacin in ordinary foods.
Vitamin B5: Pantothenic acid
Your pantothenic acid target is based on established Adequate Intake values from NASEM and EFSA.
Because an Adequate Intake is used rather than an RDA, the target represents an intake considered adequate for healthy populations rather than a precisely determined individual requirement.
No established upper intake limit is used.
Vitamin B6: Pyridoxine
Your vitamin B6 target is based on age- and sex-specific dietary reference values from NASEM and EFSA.
Vitamin B6 also has established upper intake guidance. Different authorities currently publish different upper values, so the source used for any displayed upper boundary should be considered when interpreting it.
Vitamin B12: Cobalamin
Your vitamin B12 target is based on age-specific NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes and EFSA Adequate Intake values.
No established upper intake limit is used by Neutrien for vitamin B12.
Folate: Vitamin B9
Your folate target is based on established NASEM and EFSA dietary reference values.
Folate intake is expressed using dietary folate equivalents (DFE) where appropriate because naturally occurring food folate and synthetic folic acid have different bioavailability.
The upper reference applies specifically to folic acid from supplements and fortified foods, not naturally occurring folate in ordinary foods.
Vitamin C
Your vitamin C target is based on age- and sex-specific dietary reference values from NASEM and EFSA.
For adults, the target reflects established population reference intakes intended to cover the needs of most healthy people.
An upper intake reference is also provided based on NASEM guidance.
Vitamin D
Your vitamin D target is based on established NASEM and EFSA dietary reference values and can vary with age.
Vitamin D also has an established upper intake level. The upper reference is not a target and should not be interpreted as a recommended supplementation dose.
Sun exposure, geographic location, skin characteristics and individual health status can affect vitamin D status in ways that food tracking alone cannot determine.
Vitamin E
Your vitamin E target is based primarily on NASEM dietary reference values for alpha-tocopherol.
The upper reference primarily concerns supplemental alpha-tocopherol, rather than vitamin E naturally present in foods.
Vitamin K
Your vitamin K target is based on established Adequate Intake values.
Because an Adequate Intake is used, the value should be understood as a population reference rather than an exact requirement for every individual.
No general upper intake level is used.
Minerals
Calcium
Your calcium target is based on age-dependent NASEM and EFSA dietary reference values.
Calcium needs can change across different life stages, which is why the suggested target may change with age.
An established upper intake reference is also used.
Copper
Your copper target is based on NASEM and EFSA dietary reference values and can vary with age and sex.
An established upper intake reference is also provided.
Iron
Your iron target is based on age- and sex-specific dietary reference values.
Iron requirements differ substantially between population groups, particularly because typical iron losses differ.
Because iron requirements are not distributed symmetrically across all groups, Neutrien treats the lower reference differently from most other nutrients and uses an established average-requirement value rather than estimating a lower threshold using the standard calculation used for many other nutrients.
Iron status cannot be diagnosed from food intake alone. Blood testing and clinical assessment are required to diagnose iron deficiency.
Manganese
Your manganese target is based on established NASEM and EFSA Adequate Intake values.
An upper intake reference is also provided.
Because the main recommendation is an Adequate Intake rather than an RDA, it should be interpreted as a population reference rather than a precise individual requirement.
Magnesium
Your magnesium target is based on age- and sex-specific NASEM dietary reference values.
The displayed upper reference requires special interpretation: the established upper limit applies primarily to magnesium from supplements and medications, not magnesium naturally present in food.
Phosphorus
Your phosphorus target is based on NASEM dietary reference values, with EFSA guidance also considered when establishing the lower reference.
An established upper intake reference is provided and can vary with age.
Potassium
Your potassium target is based on established NASEM and EFSA Adequate Intake values.
Because the two authorities use somewhat different reference amounts, Neutrien's calculation combines these sources according to its target methodology.
No general upper intake level from food is used.
People with certain kidney, cardiovascular, or medication-related considerations may require individualized potassium advice from a healthcare professional.
Selenium
Your selenium target is based on NASEM and EFSA dietary reference values.
An established upper intake reference is also available. NASEM and EFSA currently publish different upper intake values, so the source associated with the displayed upper reference is important when interpreting it.
Sodium
Your sodium target is based on established NASEM and EFSA guidance.
For adults, EFSA considers approximately 2,000 mg of sodium per day a safe and adequate intake for the general population.
Neutrien also uses an upper dietary reference based on NASEM guidance.
Sodium is not treated as a nutrient where consuming more is better once the suggested intake has been reached.
Zinc
Your zinc target is based primarily on NASEM age- and sex-specific Dietary Reference Intakes.
EFSA zinc requirements vary depending on the amount of phytate in the diet. Because Neutrien does not currently estimate dietary phytate precisely enough to apply those values reliably, the main zinc target uses NASEM reference values instead of assuming a phytate intake.
An established upper reference is also provided.
Other tracked nutrients
Dietary cholesterol
Neutrien tracks dietary cholesterol but does not assign a universal daily target.
Current dietary guidance generally focuses more strongly on overall dietary patterns and saturated fat than on requiring healthy people to remain below one universal cholesterol number.
Caffeine
Caffeine is treated as an upper-reference nutrient, not something you need to consume.
For healthy, non-pregnant adults, Neutrien uses EFSA's conclusion that habitual caffeine intake of up to approximately 400 mg per day generally does not raise safety concerns.
Lower limits apply to children and adolescents in the calculation framework.
Pregnancy requires different caffeine guidance and is not represented by the standard adult target.
Alcohol
Alcohol is not an essential nutrient, and Neutrien does not treat alcohol intake as something you should aim to reach.
If an alcohol reference is displayed, it is intended only as a tracking boundary and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to drink.
The World Health Organization states that no level of alcohol consumption is completely risk-free for health.
Water
Your water reference is based on NASEM Adequate Intake values.
These recommendations refer to total water intake from both beverages and food, not only water that you drink.
Actual hydration needs vary substantially with physical activity, climate, sweating, illness, body size and other factors, so the value should be interpreted as a general reference rather than a precise daily requirement.
Choline
Your choline target is based on NASEM and EFSA Adequate Intake values and can vary with age and sex.
Because choline recommendations are based on Adequate Intake rather than an RDA, the value represents an intake considered adequate for healthy populations rather than an exact individual requirement.
An established upper intake reference is also provided.
Why some targets are personalized
Nutrition reference values are not always the same for everyone.
Depending on the nutrient, Neutrien may use:
Age: requirements can change across life stages
Sex: scientific reference tables sometimes provide different values
Body weight: particularly relevant for indispensable amino acids and some safety references
Daily energy intake: some guidance is expressed as a percentage of energy or relative to calorie intake
Not every nutrient uses every factor.
Why some nutrients have no target
Being able to track a nutrient does not necessarily mean that science has established a useful minimum, target and maximum intake for it.
When an authoritative reference value is not available, Neutrien prefers to show no suggested target rather than create one without sufficient evidence.
Important limitations
Nutrition targets describe intake, not your body's nutrient status.
Neutrien cannot determine from food tracking alone whether you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Deficiency and excess can depend on absorption, medications, health conditions, genetics and other factors that are not captured by food intake alone.
If you have a diagnosed medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication that affects nutrient requirements, use high-dose supplements, or have been given specific nutrition instructions by a healthcare professional, those instructions should take priority over Neutrien's general targets.
Scientific sources
National Academies / NASEM
Dietary Reference Intakes reference tables
Dietary Reference Intakes collection
Dietary Reference Intakes for indispensable amino acids
European Food Safety Authority
EFSA Dietary Reference Values for fats
EFSA dietary reference values for iron
EFSA dietary reference values for zinc
EFSA dietary reference values for sodium
World Health Organization
About our methodology
Different scientific authorities sometimes publish different reference values for the same nutrient.
Neutrien's current calculation framework considers both U.S. NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes and European EFSA Dietary Reference Values where appropriate.
Where a formal lower intake threshold is unavailable, Neutrien may calculate a practical lower tracking reference from the published requirement data. Where only an Adequate Intake is available, Neutrien may use 80% of the Adequate Intake as a practical lower boundary.
These calculated lower references are Neutrien tracking tools, not official deficiency cutoffs.
Some values shown separately by Neutrien are derived from combined scientific recommendations. In particular:
EPA and DHA are based on a combined EFSA reference and are divided for individual tracking.
Methionine and cysteine are based on a combined sulfur-amino-acid requirement.
Phenylalanine and tyrosine are based on a combined aromatic-amino-acid requirement.
Whenever Neutrien makes such an allocation, it is intended to support tracking and should not be interpreted as a new scientific requirement.