The U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM) updated Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) and Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for iron in 2001. The current EAR for iron for women ages 14–18 is 7.9 mg/day, 8.1 for ages 19–50 and 5.0 thereafter (post menopause). For men the EAR is 6.0 mg/day for ages 19 and up. The RDA is 15.0 mg/day for women ages 15–18, 18.0 for 19–50 and 8.0 thereafter. For men, 8.0 mg/day for ages 19 and up. RDAs are higher than EARs so as to identify amounts that will cover people with higher than average requirements. RDA for pregnancy is 27 mg/day and, for lactation, 9 mg/day. For children ages 1–3 years 7 mg/day, 10 for ages 4–8 and 8 for ages 9–13. As for safety, the IOM also sets Tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) for vitamins and minerals when evidence is sufficient. In the case of iron the UL is set at 45 mg/day. Collectively the EARs, RDAs and ULs are referred to as Dietary Reference Intakes.

Question: How many years is the age range for estimated average requirements for women taking 7.9 mg/day?
Answer: 4

Question: How many years is the age range for estimated average requirements for women taking 8.1 mg/day?
Answer: 31

Question: How many years is the age range for estimated average requirements for women taking 15.0 mg/day?
Answer: 3

Question: How many years is the age range for estimated average requirements for women taking 18.0 mg/day?
Answer: 31

Question: Which recommended dietary allowance is higher, pregnancy or lactation?
Answer: pregnancy

Question: Which age groups have a requirement from RDA that enforce an mg/day higher than 14?
Answer: 15-18

Question: How many milligrams less is the RDA for lactation than for pregnancy?
Answer: 18

Question: How many years does an RDA of 8 last for children?
Answer: 4

Question: How many more milligrams is the RDA intake of those 9-13 than those 1-3 years old?
Answer: 1

Question: Which age group has a longer period of any EAR intake, women ages 14-18 or 19-50?
Answer: ages 19-50

Question: Which age group needs the most iron per day for women by RDA?
Answer: 19-50

Question: Which is higher for men, the EAR or RDA?
Answer: RDA

Question: What age group needs the highest amount of iron for children?
Answer: 4-8

Question: How many mg/day higher is the ULs for iron than the RDA for pregnant women?
Answer: 18

Question: How many mg/day is the ULs than the RDA for pregnant and nursing women combined?
Answer: 9

Question: Is the EAR for iron higher for women or men (over the age of 18)?
Answer: women

Question: How many mg higher is the RDA for women aged 19-50 than for men 19 and older?
Answer: 10

Question: Which age group within children is the RDA the highest?
Answer: ages 4–8