what is iu

IU stands for International Unit. It is a unit of measurement used in pharmacology to quantify the effect or biological activity of a substance, making it easier to compare similar forms of substances. IU is used to quantify vitamins, hormones, some medications, vaccines, blood products, and other biologically active substances. It is an internationally accepted measure of the biological activity of certain hormones and enzymes, as well as fat-soluble vitamins and other drugs. The goal of IU is to be able to compare different forms or preparations of a substance, so that those with the same biological effect will contain the same number of IUs. IU provides an international standard for the dosing of vitamins and other substances based on their biological activity, allowing for consistent information across different countries.