It updates a 2012 protein intake opinion from EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) with similar broad recommendations but still no condition-linked Dietary Reference Values (DRVs).
It used nitrogen balance data to establish the Population Reference Intake (PRI) that equates to 58.1 g of protein daily for a 70 kg adult, but said data was lacking to establish DRVs relating to muscle mass and function; body weight control and obesity or insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis.
Nor were Tolerable Upper Intake Levels(UL) established.
It said mean intakes for European adults were above 0.83 g day.
For pregnant women “an intake of 1, 9 and 28 g/d in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively, is proposed in addition to the PRI for non-pregnant women.”
“For lactation, a protein intake of 19 g/d during the first six months, and of 13 g/d after six months, is proposed in addition to the PRI for non-lactating women.”
"In European countries the main contributors to dietary protein intake are meat and meat products, grains and grain-based products, and milk and dairy products," the NDA wrote.
It added: "Data from dietary surveys show that the average protein intakes in European countries vary between 67 to 114 g/d in adult men and 59 to 102 g/d in women, or about 12 to 20 % of total energy intake (E %) for both sexes. Few data are available for the mean protein intakes on a body weight basis, which vary from 0.8 to 1.25 g/kg body weight per day for adults."
The opinion is here.
More about the differences between AR, PRI and other measures can be found here.
The NDA similarly established no DRV last year in an opinion on vitamin C intakes.