Updated DV Units and Unit Conversions for Certain Nutrients (2020-2021)

Nutrients

Current Daily Value (DV) Unit

IU Conversion

New DV Unit

New Unit Conversions

mcg DFE

(Dietary Folate Equivalents)

Naturally occurring folates (bioavailability ~50%): 

1 mcg DFE = 1 mcg folates

Synthetic folic acid (bioavailability ~85%): 

1 mcg DFE = 0.6 mcg folic acid

mg NE

(Niacin Equivalents)

Various sources of niacin: 

1 mg NE = 1 mg niacin

1 mg NE = 1 mg niacinamide

1 mg NE = 1 mg inositol nicotinate

1 mg NE = 60 mg tryptophan

1 IU = 0.3 mcg retinol

1 IU = 0.6 mcg beta-carotene

mcg RAE

(Retinol Activity Equivalents)

Pre-formed vitamin A (retinol): 

1 mcg RAE = 1 mcg retinol

Provitamin A carotenoids:

1 mcg RAE = 2 mcg beta-carotene (supplemental)

1 mcg RAE = 12 mcg beta-carotene (dietary)

1 mcg RAE = 24 mcg alpha-carotene

1 mcg RAE = 24 mcg beta-cryptoxanthin

1 IU = 0.67 mg of RRR-alpha-tocopherol

1 IU = 0.9 mg of all-rac-alpha-tocopherol

Natural vitamin E (RRR-alpha-tocopherol): 

1 mg vitamin E = 1 mg RRR-alpha-tocopherol

Synthetic vitamin E (all-rac-alpha-tocopherol): 

1 mg vitamin E = 2 mg all-rac-alpha-tocopherol