Ess e n t i al V i ta m i n s a n d M in er a l s :
Kn o w in g H o w M u c h to Take
Dr Carolyn Dean is a medical doctor and naturopath. She has authored and co-authored over 35 books
Essential Vitamins and Minerals Mineral and vitamin supplements can form part of a healthier lifestyle but knowing the right amounts to take can be confusing. Knowing more about what the abbreviations and numbers mean on the label can make a huge difference.
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DV DV stands for daily value and gives the optimum intake for each vitamin or mineral assuming a 2,000-calorie per day diet. It can often be the same as the RDA. The DV is used on food and supplement labels as a single figure guideline where space is limited.
R DA RDA stands for recommended dietary allowance and the amounts listed in these columns refer to the total amount that a person needs of each vitamin or mineral to stay healthy. The RDA is usually listed separately for adult men, adult women and children. These may also be listed as AI or adequate intake.
UL The UL is the tolerable upper intake level. This important figure shows what amount of the vitamin or mineral in question would count as an overdose, creating health concerns or side effects. Exceeding this number can have health consequences.
DV stands for daily value and gives the optimum intake for each vitamin or mineral assuming a 2,000-calorie per day diet.
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Dr Carolyn Dean
To read about how certain mineral supplements can help protect against heart disease, visit the blog of Dr. Carolyn Dean.