Normal nutritional requirements across childhood

Overview & Definition

Normal nutritional requirements are the amounts of energy, protein, fat and micronutrients that a healthy child must absorb to sustain growth, maintain body functions and support physical activity at each age. They are not a single number but a trajectory that is highest per kilogram in early infancy, when the brain and body are growing fastest, and that falls steadily relative to weight as the child matures. [1]

The practical framework combines the estimated energy and protein needs derived from total energy expenditure and growth, with recommended micronutrient intakes set by bodies such as the World Health Organization, the United States Institute of Medicine and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Together these form the dietary reference intakes that clinicians use to judge whether a child is being adequately fed. [1]

Energy is the master requirement because it gates everything else. A child who meets energy needs will generally use protein for growth, whereas an energy-deficient child burns protein for fuel and stops growing. The landmark measurement study of energy expenditure in the first two years of life established that healthy infants require about 80 to 100 kilocalories per kilogram per day, derived from total energy expenditure plus the energy deposited in new tissue. [1]

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