EFSA sets adequate intakes for magnesium and phosphorus

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set adequate intakes (AIs) for magnesium and phosphorus.

The AIs came as part of its ongoing review of dietary reference values in the EU as requested by the European Commission back in 2005.

The Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) panel set an AI for magnesium of 350 mg/day for men and 300 mg/day for women. For children this ranged from 170 to 300 mg/day according to age.

For phosphorus the panel set an AI for adults of 550 mg/day and for children this ranged between 250 and 640 mg/day.

Both opinions were subject to the usual period of public consultation, for which EFSA received comments from the Swedish National Food Agency, the company Sanofi and the trade groups Food Supplements Europe and the Council for Responsible Nutrition for magnesium.

For phosphorus it received comments from the Health Council of the Netherlands as well as a further 18 anonymous comments.