What is the difference between the RDA and the Daily Value?
The RDAS, or Recommended Dietary Allowances, are age- and gender-specific, and based on healthy people’s needs. You’ll find RDA charts in textbooks, but not on food labels. That’s where Daily Values, which are found on vitamin labels, come in. Because Daily Values are not based on age or gender, they typically reflect the needs of the group that requires more, particularly for critical nutrients. For example, the RDA for iron is 8mg for men and 18mg for women. One hundred percent of the Daily Value for iron is set at 18mg. Q: There are so many multivitamins on the market, how do I know which one is best? Tens of thousands of dietary supplements are currently on the market, with about 1,000 new products added each year. While only some are considered multivitamins, the sheer number of products can be overwhelming. “Look for a multivitamin with the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) seal,” Geise says. Dietary supplements, including multis, are not preapproved for quality before market rele
