Updated May 22, 2014.

Question: How much calcium is necessary?

Answer:

The following is the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for calcium as published by National Academy of Sciences:

• Infants
  • Age 0 to 6 months: 210 mg
  • Age 7 months to 1 year: 270 mg
• Children
  • Age 1 to 3 years: 500 mg
  • Age 4 to 8 years: 800 mg
• Women
  • Age 9 to 18 years: 1300 mg
  • Age 19 - 50 years: 1000 mg
  • Over Age 51 years: 1200 mg
  • • Pregnancy
      
      • Under Age 19: 1300 mg
      • Age 19 and Over: 1000 mg
    • Lactating
      
      • Under Age 19: 1300 mg
      • Age 19 and Over: 1000 mg

• Men
  • Age 9 to 18 years: 1300 mg
  • Age 19 - 50 years: 1000 mg
  • Over Age 51 years: 1200 mg

These recommendations were published in 2004 by the National Academy of Sciences. For a complete list of all recommendations from this report, see the following:

• Dietary Reference Intake