NHMRC reference values
Kids daily nutrient needs by age
Look up the published daily reference value and upper level for magnesium, iron, vitamin D, zinc and other key nutrients by age.
4–8 years reference values
For a child aged 6 years. Figures are the NHMRC RDI or AI and upper level. They are not a dose.
Magnesium
- Reference
- RDI 130 mg
- Upper level
- 110 mg
- Unit
- mg
- Brave
- Not listed
- Focus
- Not listed
- Calm
- Elemental Magnesium: 30mg
Iron
- Reference
- RDI 10 mg
- Upper level
- 40 mg
- Unit
- mg
- Brave
- Not listed
- Focus
- Not listed
- Calm
- Not listed
Vitamin D
- Reference
- AI 5 µg
- Upper level
- 80 µg
- Unit
- µg
- Brave
- Vitamin D3: 5μg (200IU)
- Focus
- Vitamin D3: 4μg
- Calm
- Not listed
Zinc
- Reference
- RDI 4 mg
- Upper level
- 12 mg
- Unit
- mg
- Brave
- Zinc gluconate: 3.5mgListed as zinc gluconate. This may be the compound weight rather than elemental zinc.
- Focus
- Zinc Gluconate: 4mgListed as zinc gluconate. This may be the compound weight rather than elemental zinc.
- Calm
- Zinc: 4mg
Vitamin A
- Reference
- RDI 400 µg RE
- Upper level
- 900 µg RE
- Unit
- µg RE
- Brave
- Vitamin A: 400μg RE
- Focus
- Not listed
- Calm
- Not listed
Vitamin C
- Reference
- RDI 35 mg
- Upper level
- Not set
- Unit
- mg
- Brave
- Vitamin C: 45mg
- Focus
- Not listed
- Calm
- Not listed
Vitamin B6
- Reference
- RDI 0.6 mg
- Upper level
- 20 mg
- Unit
- mg
- Brave
- Vitamin B6: 0.5mg
- Focus
- Not listed
- Calm
- Vitamin B6: 1.0mg
Vitamin B12
- Reference
- RDI 1.2 µg
- Upper level
- Not set
- Unit
- µg
- Brave
- Vitamin B12: 1μg
- Focus
- Not listed
- Calm
- Not listed
Folate
- Reference
- RDI 200 µg DFE
- Upper level
- 400 µg DFE
- Unit
- µg DFE
- Brave
- Not listed
- Focus
- Not listed
- Calm
- Not listed
Calcium
- Reference
- RDI 700 mg
- Upper level
- 2500 mg
- Unit
- mg
- Brave
- Not listed
- Focus
- Not listed
- Calm
- Not listed
Iodine
- Reference
- RDI 90 µg
- Upper level
- 300 µg
- Unit
- µg
- Brave
- Not listed
- Focus
- Not listed
- Calm
- Not listed
- The magnesium upper level applies to supplements and medicines, not to magnesium from food.
- The iron figure for 7–12 months assumes a mixed diet. NHMRC notes that vegetarian infants need a higher intake because iron from those diets is absorbed less readily.
- The vitamin D adequate intake assumes little sun exposure. It is not a test for whether a child is low in vitamin D.
- NHMRC notes that people eating vegetarian diets, particularly strict vegetarian diets, may need about 50% more zinc because it is absorbed less readily from those diets.
- Infant figures are retinol equivalents. The upper level is for retinol, not for beta-carotene from food.
- NHMRC did not set an upper level for vitamin C.
- NHMRC did not set an upper level for this age.
- The vitamin B6 upper level is set for pyridoxine.
- NHMRC did not set an upper level for vitamin B12. Vegan children need a reliable source of B12.
- The folate upper level applies to folic acid from fortified foods and supplements, not to folate naturally found in food.
- NHMRC notes that a 9–11 year old who is maturing much earlier than average may be compared with the 12–18 year reference value.
Brave (Daily multivitamin). The Brave product page says the recommended serving size is 2 gummies, and introduces this list as the contents of one daily gummy. Also listed, and not placed in the table: Vitamin E: 5mg; Vitamin B1: 0.6mg; Vitamin B2: 0.6mg; Niacin: 8mg; B-complex vitamins: 100μg DFE; Pantothenic acid: 3mg.
Focus (Nootropic + prebiotic). The Focus product page says the recommended serving size is 2 gummies. Also listed, and not placed in the table: Mushroom Polysaccharides: 120mg; Elderberry Fruit Powder: 60mg; Prebiotic Fructooligosaccharides: 100mg.
Calm (Magnesium + prebiotic). The Calm product page says the recommended serving size is 2 gummies. Magnesium citrate and elemental magnesium are listed as separate lines. Also listed, and not placed in the table: Magnesium Citrate: 200mg; Prebiotics: 160mg.
Source: NHMRC Nutrient Reference Values. Nutrient names in the table link to the Eat For Health page for that value. Publication: Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand.
Searches for how much magnesium a child needs a day, and for iron for kids or vitamin D for kids, are looking for the official Australian number. That number is a Nutrient Reference Value from the National Health and Medical Research Council. This page shows the published figure for the age you pick. It does not say what a child should take, and it does not say a child is short of a nutrient.
An RDI is the average daily intake NHMRC describes as enough for nearly all healthy people in that group. An AI is used when an RDI was not set. Vitamin D uses an AI and assumes little sun. A UL is the highest usual daily intake described as unlikely to pose a risk of adverse effects. The magnesium upper level applies to supplements and medicines, not to food. Folate’s upper level applies to folic acid added to foods and supplements, and the vitamin B6 upper level is set for pyridoxine.
Ages follow the NHMRC bands, from under 6 months through 14 to 18 years. In the teenage bands, iron, zinc, magnesium and vitamin A differ for girls and boys, and calcium steps up at 12 years. NHMRC notes that a 9 to 11 year old maturing much earlier than average may be compared with the older calcium figure, and that vegetarian diets can change how well iron and zinc are absorbed.
Brave, Focus and Calm are Daily Powers gummies. Where a product list names one of these nutrients, that listed amount sits beside the reference value. Brave is the daily multivitamin, Calm lists elemental magnesium separately from magnesium citrate, and Focus lists vitamin D and zinc. Each product page says the recommended serving size is 2 gummies, while Brave’s list is introduced as one daily gummy, so the product label is the place to confirm the figure. The comparison is not a serve and not a target.
Related products: Brave (daily multivitamin), Calm (magnesium gummy), Focus (vitamin D and zinc on the label).
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