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Dietary Supplement Vocabulary

Glossary and U.S. RDA Listing

A glossary of important nutrition terms along with the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances.

Time Release (Slow Release): When a vitamin or mineral has a time-release factor, it means that the ingredients have been scientifically coated and calibrated in timy "memory granules" that are released over a period of 2-6 hours. The advantage of time release is it gives the body the vitamin or mineral gradually instead of all at on time.

I.U.'s: International Units is a term for measuremnt of vitamins that are fat soluble (do not mix with water and need fat for proper absorption). Vitamins A, E, D and K are usually measured in I.U.'s.

MCG: A microgram is a metric measurement that is 1/1000 part of on milligram.

MG: A milligram is a metric measurement that is 1/1000 part of a gram.

R.D.A.: The Recommended Daily Dietary Allowance was started in the 1940's to safeguard the public's health. The R.D.A.'s set at the time were estimates of the nutritional needs of adults and children. These statistics were developed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used as the legal standards for labeling foods in regards to nutritional content.

U.S. RDA (Recommended Daily Allowances) Adults & Children (four years and over)

Vitamin A*...........................................5,000 I.U.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)*..........................60 mg.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)*..............................1.5 mg.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)*.............................1.7 mg. Niacin*......................................................20 mg. Calcium*.....................................................1.0 g. Iron*..........................................................18 mg.
Vitamin D................................................400 I.U.
Vitamin E..................................................30 I.U.
Vitamin B6................................................2.0 mg.
Folic Acid....................................................4 mg.
Vitamin B12...............................................6 mcg. Phosphorus..................................................1.0 g. Iodine.....................................................150 mcg. Magnesium...............................................400 mg. Zinc...........................................................15 mg. Copper.........................................................2 mg. Biotin...........................................................3 mg.
Pantothenic Acid.........................................10 mg.

*These nutrients must appear on nutrition labels. The other nutrients may appear.