Understanding the label on a vitamin bottle is essential to ensuring that you are receiving the correct amount of the vitamin. One tablet or capsule of one brand of vitamin may contain a different amount of the vitamin as a tablet or capsule of another brand of the same vitamin. Only a few moments and a little knowledge are required to successfully read and understand the label on a vitamin bottle.
Step 1
Find the portion of the vitamin label titled "Supplement Facts." This portion of the label will tell you the amount of each vitamin included in each tablet or capsule.
Step 2
Read the serving size, which should be listed immediately under the header "Supplement Facts." Commonly, the serving size is one tablet or capsule, but sometimes it is more than one.
Step 3
Determine the amount of each vitamin contained in each serving. This information will commonly be formatted by listing the name of the vitamin, the amount of the vitamin and the percentage of the recommended daily allowance the serving provides. For example, the label may read "Folic Acid -- 800 mcg -- 200%."
Step 4
Ask a pharmacist for assistance if you are struggling to understand the information listed on a vitamin bottle.
References
- "Contemporary Nutrition"; Gordon M. Wardlaw and Anne M Smith; 2007
- "Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy"; Staci Nix; 2005
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