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Units of Nutrition

IU or iu - International Unit - Before they had modern technology to determine molecular structure and weight, it was possible to define something using a specific definition, like "how much of a vitamiin-containing substance one must feed a cow to keep it healthy" could be defined as 1 international unit. Now that the structure of vitamins has been determined, the quantity can be defined by weight, like grams or micrograms. So, for instance, 1 IU of vitamin X may be also stated as 3.2 mg of vitamin X.

g = grams - there are about 500 g in a pound.

mg = milligrams - there are one thousand mg in a gram.

mcg = micrograms - there are one thousand mcg in a mg.