Food and nutrient guidelines

The Nutrient Reference Values for Australia (NRVs) are evidence‑based recommendations. They specify the amounts of essential nutrients needed to meet the requirements of healthy individuals and reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes. 

Total nutrient intakes for a population group may be compared to the relevant NRVs (NHMRC 2017). It is preferable to use usual nutrient intakes to assess the nutritional status of a population, where possible. See Single day, average, and usual intakes for more information.

NRVs are set by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for different age and sex groups or life stages. Following a decision by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA) and the NHMRC, the age groups for reporting food and nutrient intakes from the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Study 2023 were changed. See Changes in NHMRC reference age groups for more information. 

The ABS re-derived weighted NRVs for the new age groups to report survey estimates. For further information about how these NRVs were calculated, see Changes to Nutrient Reference Values (NRV). The NHMRC is undertaking a rolling review of NRVs, where the new age groups will be used in the future. Updates to the 2006 NRVs for fluoride and sodium were published in 2016 and 2017. 

NRVs such as estimated average requirements (EARs) and upper levels of intake (ULs) are intended to be used at a population level for assessment of the nutrition status of the population of interest (NHMRC 2017). The Suggested Dietary Targets (SDTs) for dietary fibre (38 g/day adult males, 28 g/day adult females) and the revised SDT for sodium (2000 mg/day, adults only) may be referred to in the commentary to put these nutrient intakes in context. Comparison of the NRV to an individual's single day intake does not confirm a specific diagnosis (e.g. a nutrient deficiency) without consultation with a health professional.

Comparison of nutrient intakes estimated from 24-hour recall records with NRVs are not necessarily the best measure of the proportion of the population with nutrient deficiency or excess for some nutrients, particularly for vitamin D, iodine and sodium. Biomedical measures were also taken in the National Health Measures Study (NHMS) 2022–24 to reliably collect information on key vitamins and minerals from a sample of respondents of the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS). Data on iron, calcium, vitamin D, folate and vitamin B12 were collected for participating respondents aged 12 years and over, and on sodium, potassium and iodine for participating respondents aged 5 years and over. See Biomedical collections for more information.

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (2017), Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes, NHMRC website, accessed 02/03/2026.