Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Chart showing why the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is outdated compared to current research-based intakes

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Is the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Protein Outdated?

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on Apr 30 2026
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein (0.8 g/kg) was set as a deficiency floor, not an optimization target. Most active adults benefit from 1.2–1.6 g/kg or more. Here's what the latest research from the ISSN, NHANES, and recent peer-reviewed reviews actually says.