In vitamin measurements, what is 'ug'? Is it the same as mg? Or IU? SO confused!

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

Just bought a vitamin supplement that has 25ug per tablet - and that , according to the pack, is 500% of the NRV. Just found another pack in the cupboard that has 500IU per tablet (doesn't state the NRV).

So, as per the above question, how I compare the two? Is 'ug' the same as 'IU'? And where does mg come into the equation as I've seem similar supplements giving the values in mg. Utterly perplexed. Would be thrilled if anyone could help me out

It’s micrograms. 1000ug = 1mg. Not sure what IU is.

It's not ug, there's a tail on the right. It's a symbol for micrograms, which can also be called mcg. Mg is milligrams. There are 1000 mcg in 1mg.

IU = international unit

ug could be micrograms - micro usually written as Greek letter mu which I have no idea how to reproduce on here! 1 mg =1,000 micrograms

Is it the microgram symbol rather than iu? It looks like an i without a dot and a slightly long tail joined on to a u.

Its a greek letter I think but cant remember which one.

mg=miligrams
ug or mcg = micrograms
1000 microgram is 1miligram

As other posters have said ug is micrograms and IU is international units. Converting between the two is substance specific, which vitamin are you trying to compare?

Bluebelltulip - It's vitamin D3.

Thanks everyone for you help - it's much appreciated!

Yes, it's not actually a 'u' but had no idea how to reproduce the actual symbol on here - presumed people would know what was meant - and you all did.

Yes, it is the Greek symbol. "mu", μ and μg stands for microgram. 0.5mg is the same as 500μg.

IU is more complicated as it depends on potency, so I wouldn't try to work that out!!

@Pluckedpencil

Yes, it is the Greek symbol. "mu", μ and μg stands for microgram. 0.5mg is the same as 500μg.

You win a small prize for being the only person able to display it here!

I think 500IU of vitamin d = 12.5μg = 0.0125mg

This might help https://www.pureencapsulations.com/media/17100ATR-HCP-OnePgrLabelReffhlfpg_FIN.pdf

Wikipedia, copy and paste of symbol! I'm on a phone and don't have symbols like mu!

Oooh! You've made me try this now. It's alt-m on my laptop for µ.

Every day's a school day!

If its vitamin D then 1µg = 40IU so
25µg = 1000IU
To convert 500IU into µg would mean dividing by 40 which is 12.5µg