Final answer:
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the daily dietary intake level that satisfies the needs of 97% of the population, and is based on the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR).
Step-by-step explanation:
The daily dietary intake level that is considered sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of 97% of the population is known as the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The RDA is a value used by health professionals to assess and plan diets. It is based on an earlier measure called the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), which is the nutrient level estimated to satisfy the needs of 50% of the population.
The RDA is set higher than the EAR to cover the needs of nearly all (97.5%) individuals in a given age and gender group. The RDA values are part of the dietary reference intakes developed by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council. These values help in ensuring that the dietary needs for energy, macro, and micronutrients are met to maintain
health, and are calculated based on factors like age, gender, and life stage.