In relation to vitamins, what does IU stand for, literally.......?!


Question: In relation to vitamins, what does IU stand for, literally........?
....and how do you work out a dosage stated in IU's equivalent to the dosage in mcg (micrograms).?

There's a recommended dosage for a vitamin supplement in a book which says how much you should take in IU's, but I'm trying to work out if I would be taking too high a dose since it's also present in another supplement I would be taking, but the dosage is stated in mcg on this other one.
Can anyone help.?
Thanks : )Health Question & Answer


Answers:
It stands for International Unit. The precise definition of one IU differs from substance to substance and is established by international agreement for each substance. There is no equivalence among different substances; for instance, one IU of vitamin E does not contain the same number of milligrams as one IU of vitamin A.

For more, see this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internation...Health Question & Answer

IU is "international units", an effort on the part of the world health organization to bring some consistency and continuity to the world of supplements.Health Question & Answer

IU stands for international unit.

The dosages of different vitamins can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internation...Health Question & Answer

It means

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