What is the average RDA for protein for an adult?

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 31 July-2025

Explanation

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein for healthy adults is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.
This value is established by health authorities to meet the nutritional needs of approximately 97-98% of all healthy individuals in this life stage.
For example, a 75 kg (165 lb) adult would require about 60 grams of protein per day (75 kg × 0.8 g/kg).
This amount is sufficient for tissue repair, enzyme and hormone production, and other essential metabolic functions in a typical adult.

Option A: This intake (0.2 g/kg) is significantly below the minimum requirement and would lead to protein deficiency, resulting in muscle wasting (catabolism), impaired immune function, and poor wound healing.
Option B: This is an extremely high level of protein intake, far exceeding the needs of a typical adult. Such high levels are generally only seen in extreme bodybuilding or under specific, medically supervised conditions and can put a strain on the kidneys.
Option D: This is a very high protein intake, typically recommended only for serious athletes undergoing intense training or individuals with severe catabolic stress (like major burns or trauma) to promote tissue repair.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Protein as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in nutritional screening. Understanding baseline protein needs helps identify patients at risk for malnutrition, such as the elderly, post-surgical patients, or those with chronic illnesses.
Accurate calculation of protein needs is essential for planning therapeutic diets in conditions like renal failure (where protein is often restricted) or major burns (where protein needs are dramatically increased).
Patient education on adequate protein sources (both animal and plant-based) is a key nursing intervention to promote health and recovery.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It's asking for a specific, standard nutritional value (RDA for protein in adults).
Recognize this as a factual recall question based on established nutritional science.
Recall the standard value for a healthy adult, which is a foundational concept in nursing and nutrition education.
Evaluate the options provided. Systematically eliminate the distractors that are clearly too low (0.2 g/kg, which would cause deficiency) or excessively high (2.4 and 3.6 g/kg, which are for specialized populations like elite athletes).
Select the option that matches the well-established scientific guideline for the general population.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 435-437

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 502-504

Practise the full BTSC Staff Nurse 31 July-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.