GLOSSARY
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Commonly used names for dietary ingredients found on different supplement labels to describe the same specific ingredient. For a list of ingredients and some common synonyms, click here for common synonym file (PDF - 10 KB).
Reference values used on labels for dietary supplements, based on a 2000 calorie intake for adults and children 4 or more years of age. The DV is expressed on labels as a percentage of the daily recommended amount per dietary ingredient per serving. It is based on Daily Reference Values that apply to fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, sodium, and potassium and Reference Daily Intakes for essential vitamins and minerals.
Dietary Supplement
Defined by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) as a product (other than tobacco) that is intended to supplement the diet which bears or contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients: a) a vitamin, b) a mineral, c) an herb or other botanical, d) an amino acid, e) a dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or f) a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any ingredient described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e).
DSHEA
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) signed by President Clinton on October 25, 1994 which includes the definition, composition, labeling and manufacturers' claims for dietary supplement products.
DSID
The Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database, as an initiative of the Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. DSID research is conducted at the Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL), Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, the nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
International Unit. In reference to supplement products containing vitamins, an IU is a unit of measurement of vitamin activity according to biological methods rather than by chemical analysis.
Name of the company producing a specific dietary supplement product.
Market Share
Estimated proportion of reported consumer use of a dietary supplement product, product type, or category according to data from one or more current market and population-based surveys.
mcg
Abbreviation for microgram. One microgram is equal to one millionth of a gram.
mg
Abbreviation for milligram. One milligram is equal to one thousandth of a gram.
Mineral
Naturally occurring, inorganic substance with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure. Minerals are generally classified into the following chemical classes: silicates, carbonates, sulfates, halides, oxides, sulfides, phosphates and metals.
Multivitamin/multimineral(MVM)
Dietary supplement containing three or more vitamins, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Nutrient Data Laboratory, at the Beltsville Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. DSIS research is conducted at the NDL.
NIH
NIH is one of the world's foremost medical research centers and is the federal focal point for medical research in the United States. The NIH, comprising 27 separate Institutes and Centers, is one of eight health agencies of the Public Health Service which, in turn, is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NLM®
The National Library of Medicine® (NLM) of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland, is the world's largest medical library. The Library collects materials and provides information and research services in all areas of biomedicine and health care. The web site for the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database is supported by NLM.
Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) of the National Institutes of Health. ODS was established as a result of DSHEA to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements by evaluating scientific information, stimulating and supporting research, disseminating research results, and educating the public to foster an enhanced quality of life and health for the U.S. population.
Quantity of the product used in one serving of a dietary supplement, which is the maximum amount recommended on the manufacturer label of the supplement per intake, such as one caplet or two soft gels or one teaspoon per serving. Other than the manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure safety, there are no rules that limit a serving size or the amount of a nutrient in any form of dietary supplements. This decision is made by the manufacturer and does not require FDA review or approval.
Supplement Facts
Names and quantities of dietary ingredients listed on the dietary supplement container’s labeled Supplement Facts panel.
Any organic substance essential in small amounts to sustain growth and activity of the body and obtained from plant or animal sources.
