Nutritional needs

4-6 years

• Energy requirements continue to increase and there is a greater need for protein, all the vitamins (except C and D) and all the minerals (except iron).


• The RNI figure for vitamin C remains the same as for younger children.


• No value is given for vitamin D since the action of sunlight on the child's skin will now be the major source of this vitamin.

7-10 years

• There is a marked increase in requirements for energy and protein.


• There is no change in the requirement for thiamin, vitamin C or vitamin A but the requirements for the other vitamins and minerals are increased.

11-14 years

• Energy requirements continue to increase and protein requirements increase by approximately 50%.


• By the age of 11, the vitamin and mineral requirements for boys and girls start to differ. Boys: There is an increased requirement for all the vitamins and minerals.

Adults 19-50 years

• In comparison to adolescents, energy requirements are lower for both men and women, as are requirements for calcium and phosphorus.


• There is also a reduced requirement in women for magnesium, and in men for iron.


• The requirements for protein and most of the vitamins and minerals remain virtually unchanged in comparison to adolescents (except for selenium in men which increases slightly).
  

During lactation, there is an increased requirement for energy, protein, all the vitamins (except B6), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper and selenium.

50+ years old adults

• Energy requirements decrease gradually after the age of 50 in women and age 60 in men as people typically become less active.


• Protein requirements decrease for men but continue to increase slightly in women.


• The requirements for vitamins and minerals remain virtually unchanged for both men and women.


• After the age of 65 the RNI for vitamin D is 10 µg/day.


• The reduction in energy needs, coupled with unchanged requirements for vitamins and minerals, means that the nutrient density of the diet becomes even more important.

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Adults 19-50 years In comparison to adolescents, energy requirements are lower for both men and women, as are requirements for calcium and phosphorus. There is also a reduced requirement in women for magnesium, and in men for iron. The requirements for protein and most of the vitamins and minerals remain virtually unchanged in comparison to adolescents (except for selenium in men which increases slightly).
Pregnancy During pregnancy, there are increased requirements for some, but not all, nutrients. Women intending to become pregnant and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are advised to take supplements of folic acid to help reduce the risk of their child having a neural tube defect. In addition, all women of child bearing age are advised to choose a diet that supplies adequate amounts of folate (Department of Health, 1992.) Additional energy and thiamin are required only during the last three months of pregnancy. Mineral requirements do not increase.
Lactation During lactation, there is an increased requirement for energy, protein, all the vitamins (except B6), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper and selenium.
50+ years Energy requirements decrease gradually after the age of 50 in women and age 60 in men as people typically become less active. Protein requirements decrease for men but continue to increase slightly in women. The requirements for vitamins and minerals remain virtually unchanged for both men and women. There is one exception - after the menopause, women's requirement for iron is reduced to the same level as that for men. After the age of 65 the RNI for vitamin D is 10 µg/day. The reduction in energy needs, coupled with unchanged requirements for vitamins and minerals, means that the nutrient density of the diet becomes even more important. Nutrient density means the quantity of vitamins and minerals in relation to the amount of energy supplied by the foods and drinks consumed.Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Nutritional_needs_of_different_age_group#ixzz1EpkurGJS