Do vitamin RDAs scale with calories?

bidniss

I'm eating 1250 calories a day, which is 62.5% of the 2000 calories that RDAs are based on. Should I be aiming for only 62.5% RDA of iron, for example? I've been hovering around 50% and it seems like it would be impossible to hit 100% through food alone while I'm eating so little.

Edit: I should specify that regardless of calorie restriction, I have a BMR of around 1500 calories. Would 75% RDA for iron be enough, or doesn't it scale that way?

WalkingAlong

No, I don't think it scales. The RDAs are for a human regardless of their size or intake level.

Kittyglenwood

You should be trying to eat 100% of your vitamins and minerals no matter how many calories you consume. To increase your iron intake you can consider eating certain cereals that have high iron in them (shredded wheat, cheerios, a couple of the Great Grains cereals), organ meat, red meat, Pumpkin seeds, dark leafy greens, beans, and egg yolks.
The reason dieticians recommend not eating less than 1200 calories per day is because it is impossible to consume all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to survive if you eat less calories than this. Since you are eating 1250 a day you will need to pay close attention to what you are eating in order to reach optimal nutritional levels.

bidniss

Thank you!