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

The international unit reported sales growth of 32% to $4.03 billion in the quarter ended June from a year ago. —Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2024

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

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