Final answer:
The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) is the nutrient intake value that meets the needs of 50 percent of individuals in a specific life-stage and gender group.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nutrient intake value estimated to meet the needs of 50 percent of the individuals in a specific life-stage and gender group is known as the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR). The EAR is utilized to determine where to set the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), which is the intake level sufficient to meet the needs of 97.5% of the population. On the other hand, the Adequate Intake (AI) is used when there isn't enough information to establish an EAR and is set based on observed or experimentally determined approximations of nutrient intake by a group of healthy people. Lastly, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL, often referred to as the upper limit) is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects.