How to Read a Vitamin Label

Sponsored by Dr. Weil's Vitamin Advisor.

Labels on natural vitamin supplement bottles present a challenge to manufacturers: a great deal

of information about a complex product must be squeezed into a tiny space. Through necessity,

they resort to abbreviations and verbal shorthand to communicate, and it can be a bit daunting to

the uninitiated. Here’s a guide to sorting it all out:

Click a number for detailed description.

1. "% of Daily Value": The "Daily Value," or DV, was created by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration for labels on foods and supplements, and implemented in 1994. It is based on two

sets of references: Daily Reference Values, or DRVs, and Reference Daily Intakes, or RDIs.

DRVs are for nutrients for which no set of standards existed previously, such as fat and

cholesterol. RDIs replaced the term "U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances" (RDA), which were

introduced in 1973 for labeling of vitamins, minerals and protein.

If the "% Daily Value" listed is "75%" that means one serving supplies 75 percent of the entire

DV for that nutrient. If the value listed is more than 100 percent, it suggests some advantage to

exceeding the DV. In this case, it reflects the view of Dr. Weil and his science advisory board

that the DV established by the FDA is below the optimal dosage. This illustrates the difference

between "what you can get by on" and "what is the amount that may provide the most benefit."

2. "Serving Size": This indicates how many of the units - tablets, soft-gels, capsules, etc. - need

to be consumed in a day to reach the percent of daily value listed on the label.

3. Units of measure reflect the standard reference units for each kind of nutrient. “I.U.,” stands

for “International Unit” and is the standard for measuring fat-soluble vitamins, which include

vitamins A, D, E and K. The abbreviation "mg" stands for milligrams, or one-thousandths of a

gram, and “mcg" stands for micrograms, or one millionths of a gram.

4. Double asterisks in place of DV listings mean that DVs have not been established for these

nutrients. The nutrients are included in some Weil dietary supplements because studies suggest

they have scientifically validated health benefits and are safe to consume at the amounts

contained in the supplement.

5."Other ingredients": This is a list of compounds that do not directly contribute to the nutrient

DVs in the supplement, but instead aid in functions such as tablet integrity, proper digestion or

preservation of shelf life.

6. "EXP" indicates the expiration date; that is, the date by which the supplements in the bottle

will have degraded to the point that the percent of DV listed on the label is no longer accurate.

Consuming supplements that are past their expiration date is usually not harmful, but since the

full nutritional value is not received by the consumer, it is recommended that supplements that

have passed their expiration date be replaced with fresher ones.

7. "LOT" is a number that identifies the specific manufacturing lot that included this particular

item. It is useful in the unlikely event that questions arise about the integrity of ingredients or

manufacturing processes used to create that lot.

8. "Directions" provides information to help the consumer safely obtain maximum value from

the product.

9. "Note" serves to warn consumers of potential adverse effects the supplement could present to

individuals such as pregnant or lactating women, people taking certain prescription medications,

or people with allergies. This section also contains information regarding how to store the

supplements.

10. Manufacturer's information tells which company made the supplement, and where the

company has its headquarters.

11. "For more information" provides contact information should purchasers or potential

purchasers have questions about the product.