international unit

noun

: a quantity of a biologically active substance (such as a vitamin) that produces a particular biological effect agreed upon as an international standard

Examples of international unit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One small study of children with ADHD without magnesium deficiency evaluated the effects of 6 mg per kilogram (kg) of magnesium daily with vitamin D 50,000 international units (IU) a week for eight weeks on ADHD symptoms. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 11 Sep. 2024

Under his leadership, A-State restructured its international unit, which has yielded dividends. —Ryan Anderson, arkansasonline.com, 5 Sep. 2024

In one study, participants who took 800 international units (IU) of vitamin E reported a decrease of one hot flash per day. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 13 Aug. 2024

The Dutch–German division is part of the regular Bundeswehr, not a separate international unit. —Elisabeth Braw, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2016

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

international unit

noun

: the amount of specific physiological activity of a standardized preparation (as of a vitamin) that is agreed upon as an international standard especially for comparison with other biologicals containing the substance in impure form or with a related biologically active substance

also : the amount of the biologically active substance in the standard amount of the preparation producing this activity