You stroll down the pharmacy aisles on what seems like a
simple mission: pick up some vitamins. But a quick
glance at a bottle's label can send you running for a
dictionary. Things like "RDA" or "DV" are just a few
examples of an alphabet soup that's on many packages.
But don't despair. We'll help you demystify supplement
guidelines.
Here is a list of the Recommended Dietary Allowance and
Upper Intake Level for each:
Many of the terms you see on labels or supplement
websites can help you understand how much of the vitamin
or mineral you should take. For example, here are some
guidelines set up by the Institute of Medicine:
The RDA
(Recommended Dietary Allowance) and the AI
(Adequate Intake) are the amounts of a vitamin
or mineral you need to keep healthy and stay
well-nourished. They're tailored to women, men, and
specific age groups.
The UL
(Tolerable Upper Intake Level) is the maximum
amount of daily vitamins and minerals that you can
safely take without risk of an overdose or serious side
effects. For certain nutrients, the higher you go above
the UL, the greater the chance you'll have problems.
Separate from the RDA and the UL, the Food and Drug
Administration uses a different measure for the
nutrients you need:
The DV
(Daily Value) is the only measurement you'll
find on food and supplement labels. That's because space
is limited, and there's a need for one single reference
number. That number is the amount of a vitamin or
nutrient that you should get for top health from a diet
of 2,000 calories a day. The DV is sometimes the same as
the RDA.
Although the details may be different, remember that the
RDA and DV are both set up to help you get the nutrients
you need to prevent disease and avoid problems caused by
lack of nutrition.
Units
There are 3 types of units used to measure amounts of
minerals and vitamins:
Milligrams – a milligram is 1 thousandth of a gram
and is usually written as mg
Micrograms – a microgram is 1 millionth of a gram
and is usually written as μg or mcg. 1,000
micrograms is equal to 1 milligram.
International Units, which are sometimes used to
measure vitamins A, D and E – and usually written as IU. The conversion of milligrams (mg) and micrograms
(μg) into IU depends on the type of vitamin.
How Much Is Too Much?
Because high doses of some supplements can have risks,
how do you know when it's OK to take more than the RDA
or DV?
One way is to look for the UL (tolerable upper intake
level) of a nutrient. With many vitamins and minerals,
you can safely take a dose much higher than the RDA or
DV without coming close to the UL.
For instance, the average person can take more than 50
times the RDA of vitamin B6 without reaching the upper
limit. But some people develop symptoms of nerve pain
with these higher levels of B6. So you should always be
cautious. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Some supplements are riskier than others. With
some vitamins and minerals, the upper limit is pretty
close to the RDA. So it's easy to get too much. For
example, a man who takes just over three times the RDA
of vitamin A would get more than the upper limit. High
doses of vitamin A -- and other fat-soluble vitamins
like E and K -- can build up in the body and become
toxic. Other risky supplements include the minerals iron
and selenium.
Supplements are designed to be additions to your diet. Popping
pills is not the answer to good health. Experts say you
should eat a well-balanced diet and take supplements to
fill in any nutritional gaps. Some people take a
multivitamin with minerals for nutritional insurance.
The UL is often the limit for all sources
of a nutrient. It can include the amount you
get from both food and supplements. So when you figure
out whether you've reached the UL on a particular
nutrient, take into account the food you eat.
You won't find the UL on food nutrition labels or on
your vitamin bottle. It's not a number that
most people know about. But you'll see it on government
websites. And there's a complete list of nutrients with
ULs at the end of this article.
Most supplements don't have a UL -- or RDA or DV. The
government has only set levels for a fraction of the
vitamins and supplements available. For most of the
supplements you see on the shelves, experts really don't
know the ideal or maximum dose.
Many nutrients, in too high a dose, can be dangerous. To
be on the safe side, steer clear of the UL for any
nutrient. And if you have a health condition, check with
your doctor before you take supplements. They can tell
you if they have side effects or interfere with other
medicines you use.
For menstrual cramps
and boric acid has been used vaginally for yeast infections,
but evidence is limited
Calcium
Birth to 6 months
200 mg
Infants 7–12 months
260 mg
Children 1–3 years
700 mg
Children 4–8 years
1,000 mg
Children 9–13 years
1,300 mg
Teens 14–18 years
1,300 mg
Adults 19–50 years
1,000 mg
Adult men 51–70 years
1,000 mg
Adult women 51–70 years
1,200 mg
Adults 71+ years
1,200 mg
Pregnant and breastfeeding teens
1,300 mg
Pregnant and breastfeeding women
1,000 mg
Birth to 6 months
1,000 mg
Infants 7–12 months
1,500 mg
Children 1–8 years
2,500 mg
Children 9–18 years
3,000 mg
Adults 19–50 years
2,500 mg
Adults 51+ years
2,000 mg
Pregnant and breastfeeding teens
3,000 mg
Pregnant and breastfeeding women
2,500 mg
Formation of
bones and teeth, supports blood clotting
Chloride
Birth to 12 months
0.3 g
Children 1–3 years
1.7 g
Children 4–8 years
2.0 g
Children 9–13 years
2.3 g
Adults 14–50 years
2.3g
Adults 51-70 years
2.0 g
Adults 71-up years
1.8 g
Birth to 12 months
Not established
Children 1–3 years
2.3 g
Children 4–8 years
2.9 g
Children 9–13 years
3.4 g
Adults 14–50 years
3.6 g
Adults 51-70 years
3.6 g
Adults 71-up years
3.6 g
Maintains fluid
and electrolyte balance, aids in digestion
Choline
Birth to 6 months
125 mg
Infants 7–12 months
150 mg
Children 1–3 years
200 mg
Children 4–8 years
250 mg
Children 9–13 years
375 mg
Teen boys 14–18 years
550 mg
Teen girls 14–18 years
400 mg
Adult
Men 19+ years
550 mg
Adult
Women 19+ years
425 mg
Pregnant teens and women
450 mg
Breastfeeding teens and women
550 mg
Birth to 12 months
Not established
Children 1–3 years
1,000 mg
Children 4–8 years
1,000 mg
Children 9–13 years
2,000 mg
Teens 14–18 years
3,000 mg
Adults 19+ years
3,500 mg
Chromium
Birth to 6 months
0.2 mcg
Infants 7–12 months
5.5 mcg
Children 1–3 years
11 mcg
Children 4–8 years
15 mcg
Boys 9–13 years
25 mcg
Girls 9–13 years
21 mcg
Teen boys 14–18 years
35 mcg
Teen girls 14–18 years
24 mcg
Adult men 19–50 years
35 mcg
Adult women 19–50 years
25 mcg
Adult men 51+ years
30 mcg
Adult women 51+ years
20 mcg
Pregnant teens
29 mcg
Pregnant women
30 mcg
Breastfeeding teens
44 mcg
Breastfeeding women
45 mcg
Not established
Associated with
insulin and is required for the release of energy from
glucose
Copper
Birth to 6 months
0.2 mcg
Infants 7–12 months
5.5 mcg
Children 1–3 years
11 mcg
Children 4–8 years
15 mcg
Boys 9–13 years
25 mcg
Girls 9–13 years
21 mcg
Teen boys 14–18 years
35 mcg
Teen girls 14–18 years
24 mcg
Adult men 19–50 years
35 mcg
Adult women 19–50 years
25 mcg
Adult men 51+ years
30 mcg
Adult women 51+ years
20 mcg
Pregnant teens
29 mcg
Pregnant women
30 mcg
Breastfeeding teens
44 mcg
Breastfeeding women
45 mcg
Birth to 12 months
Not established
Children 1–3 years
1,000 mcg
Children 4–8 years
3,000 mcg
Children 9–13 years
5,000 mcg
Teens 14–18 years
8,000 mcg
Adults 19+ years
10,000 mcg
Necessary for the
absorption and utilization of iron, supports formation of
hemoglobin and several enzymes
Fluoride
Birth to 6 months
0.01 mg
Infants 7–12 months
0.5 mg
Children 1–3 years
0.7 mg
Children 4–8 years
1 mg
Children 9–13 years
2 mg
Teens 14–18 years
3 mg
Adult men 19+ years
4 mg
Adult women 19+ years
3 mg
Pregnant teens and women
3 mg
Breastfeeding teens and women
3 mg
Birth to 6 months
0.7 mg
Infants 7–12 months
0.9 mg
Children 1–3 years
1.3 mg
Children 4–8 years
2.2 mg
Children 9–13 years
10 mg
Teens 14–18 years
10 mg
Adults 19+ years
10 mg
Pregnant teens and women
10 mg
Breastfeeding teens and women
10 mg
Involved in the
formation of bones and teeth, helps to make teeth resistant
to decay
Iodine
Birth to 6 months
110 mcg
Infants 7–12 months
130 mcg
Children 1–8 years
90 mcg
Children 9–13 years
120 mcg
Teens 14–18 years
150 mcg
Adults 19+ years
150 mcg
Pregnant teens and women
220 mcg
Breastfeeding teens and women
290 mcg
Birth to 12 months:
Not established
Children 1–3 years:
200 mcg
Children 4–8 years:
300 mcg
Children 9–13 years:
600 mcg
Teens 14–18 years:
900 mcg
Adults: 19+ years
1,100 mcg
Component of
thyroid hormones that help regulate growth, development and
metabolic rate
Iron
Birth to 6 months
0.27 mg
Infants 7–12 months
11 mg
Children 1–3 years
7 mg
Children 4–8 years
10 mg
Children 9–13 years
8 mg
Teen boys 14–18 years
11 mg
Teen girls 14–18 years
15 mg
Adult men 19–50 years
8 mg
Adult women 19–50 years
18 mg
Adults 51+ years
8 mg
Pregnant teens
27 mg
Pregnant women
27 mg
Breastfeeding teens
10 mg
Breastfeeding women
9 mg
Birth to 12 months
40 mg
Children 1–13 years
40 mg
Teens 14–18 years
45 mg
Adults 19+ years
45 mg
Part of the
protein hemoglobin (carries oxygen throughout body's cells)
Magnesium
Birth to 6 months
30 mg
Infants 7–12 months
75 mg
Children 1–3 years
80 mg
Children 4–8 years
130 mg
Children 9–13 years
240 mg
Teen boys 14–18 years
410 mg
Teen girls 14–18 years
310 mg
Adult
Men 19+ years
400–420 mg
Adult
Women 19+ years
310–320 mg
Pregnant teens
400 mg
Pregnant women
350–360 mg
Breastfeeding teens
360 mg
Breastfeeding women
310–320 mg
Birth to 12 months
Not established
Children 1–3 years
65 mg
Children 4–8 years
110 mg
Children 9–18 years
350 mg
Adults 19+ years
350 mg
Supports bone
mineralization, protein building, muscular contraction,
nerve impulse transmission, immunity
Manganese
Birth to 6 months
0.003 mg
Infants 7–12 months
0.6 mg
Children 1–3 years
1.2 mg
Children 4–8 years
1.5 mg
Boys 9–13 years
1.9 mg
Girls 9–13 years
1.6 mg
Teen boys 14–18 years
2.2 mg
Teen girls 14–18 years
1.6 mg
Adult men 19+ years
2.3 mg
Adult women 19+ years
1.8 mg
Pregnant teens and women
2.0 mg
Breastfeeding teens and women
2.6 mg
Birth to 6 months
Not established
Infants 7–12 months
Not established
Children 1–3 years
2 mg
Children 4–8 years
3 mg
Children 9–13 years
6 mg
Teens 14–18 years
9 mg
Adults 19+ years
11 mg
Pregnant teens
9 mg
Pregnant women
11 mg
Breastfeeding teens
9 mg
Breastfeeding women
11 mg
In the body, it's
involved in many chemical processes, including the
processing of cholesterol, carbohydrates, and protein. It
might also be involved in bone formation.
Molybdenum
Birth to 6 months
2 mcg
Infants 7–12 months
3 mcg
Children 1–3 years
17 mcg
Children 4–8 years
22 mcg
Children 9–13 years
34 mcg
Teens 14–18 years
43 mcg
Adults 19+ years
45 mcg
Pregnant teens and women
50 mcg
Breastfeeding teens and women
50 mcg
Birth to 12 months
Not established
Children 1–3 years
300 mcg
Children 4–8 years
600 mcg
Children 9–13 years
1,100 mcg
Teens 14–18 years
1,700 mcg
Adults 19+ years
2,000 mcg
In the body, it helps
to break down proteins and other substances.
Phosphorus
Birth to 6 months
100 mg
Infants 7–12 months
275 mg
Children 1–3 years
460 mg
Children 4–8 years
500 mg
Children 9–13 years
1,250 mg
Teens 14–18 years
1,250 mg
Adults 19+ years
700 mg
Pregnant and
breastfeeding teens
1,250 mg
Pregnant and
breastfeeding women
700 mg
Birth to 6 months
Not established
Infants 7–12 months
Not established
Children 1–3 years
3,000 mg
Children 4–8 years
3,000 mg
Children 9–13 years
4,000 mg
Teens 14–18 years
4,000 mg
Adults 19–70 years
4,000 mg
Adults 71+ years
3,000 mg
Pregnant teens and women
3,500 mg
Breastfeeding teens and women
4,000 mg
Formation of
cells, bones and teeth, maintains acid-base balance
Potassium
Birth to 6 months
400 mg
Infants 7–12 months
860 mg
Children 1–3 years
2,000 mg
Children 4–8 years
2,300 mg
Children 9–13 years (boys)
2,500 mg
Children 9–13 years (girls)
2,300 mg
Teens 14–18 years (boys)
3,000 mg
Teens 14–18 years (girls)
2,300 mg
Adults 19+ years (men)
3,400 mg
Adults 19+ years (women)
2,600 mg
Pregnant teens
2,600 mg
Pregnant women
2,900 mg
Breastfeeding teens
2,500 mg
Breastfeeding women
2,800 mg
Not established
Maintains fluid
and electrolyte balance, cell integrity, muscle contractions
and nerve impulse transmission
Selenium
Birth to 6 months
15 mcg
Infants 7–12 months
20 mcg
Children 1–3 years
20 mcg
Children 4–8 years
30 mcg
Children 9–13 years
40 mcg
Teens 14–18 years
55 mcg
Adults 19+ years
55 mcg
Pregnant teens and women
60 mcg
Breastfeeding teens and women
70 mcg
Birth to 6 months
45 mcg
Infants 7–12 months
60 mcg
Children 1–3 years
90 mcg
Children 4–8 years
150 mcg
Children 9–13 years
280 mcg
Teens 14–18 years
400 mcg
Adults 19+ years
400 mcg
Antioxidant.
Works with vitamin E to protect body from oxidation
Sodium
Birth to 6 months
110 mg
Infants 7–12 months
370 mg
Children 1–3 years
800 mg
Children 4–8 years
1,000 mg
Children 9–13 years
1,200 mg
Teens 14–18 years
1.500 mg
Adults 19 + years
1.500 mg
Pregnant teens and women
1,500 mg
Breastfeeding teens and women
1,500 mg
Not established
Maintains fluid
and electrolyte balance, supports muscle contraction and
nerve impulse transmissions
Zinc
Birth to 6 months
2 mg
Infants 7–12 months
3 mg
Children 1–3 years
3 mg
Children 4–8 years
5 mg
Children 9–13 years
8 mg
Teen males 14–18 years
11 mg
Teen females 14–18 years
9 mg
Adult males 19+ years
11 mg
Adult females 19+ years
8 mg
Pregnant teens
12 mg
Pregnant women
11 mg
Breastfeeding teens
13 mg
Breastfeeding women
12 mg
Birth to 6 months
4 mg
Infants 7–12 months
5 mg
Children 1–3 years
7 mg
Children 4–8 years
12 mg
Children 9–13 years
23 mg
Teens 14–18 years
34 mg
Adults 19+ years
40 mg
A part of many
enzymes, involved in production of genetic material and
proteins, transports vitamin A, taste perception, wound
healing, sperm production and the normal development of the
fetus