Short answer: %NRV shows how much of a legally defined adult Nutrient Reference Value a recommended amount of a supplement provides. It is a comparison tool, not a personalised requirement, a safety limit or a score of product quality.
What does NRV mean?
NRV means Nutrient Reference Value. Great Britain uses the adult vitamin and mineral values in food-information law for label percentages.
For example, the NRV for vitamin C is 80mg. A recommended daily portion supplying 80mg can be labelled 100% NRV; 40mg is 50% NRV.
Is NRV the same as the amount you personally need?
No. NRVs are standard labelling references for adults. They do not adjust for age, sex, pregnancy, health conditions, diet or advice given by a clinician. UK health guidance may also describe a Reference Nutrient Intake or daily-need figure that differs from the label NRV.
Iodine is a useful example: the NHS says adults need 140µg a day, while the label NRV is 150µg. Neither figure means that more is better.
What are the main label NRVs?
| Nutrient | Adult NRV | 15% reference point |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 80mg | 12mg |
| Vitamin D | 5µg | 0.75µg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.4mg | 0.21mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.5µg | 0.375µg |
| Magnesium | 375mg | 56.25mg |
| Zinc | 10mg | 1.5mg |
| Iron | 14mg | 2.1mg |
| Iodine | 150µg | 22.5µg |
Why does 15% matter?
Nutrition and health claims generally require a significant amount of the nutrient in the amount reasonably expected to be consumed. For vitamins and minerals, 15% of the NRV is the usual significant-amount reference applied to supplement daily portions.
However, it is not a universal shortcut for every claim. Some authorised claims specify a particular daily amount, food category, preparation or consumer information. Check the full entry in the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register.
A nutrient below the relevant threshold can still appear in the formula and label. The issue is whether the seller can promote an associated benefit.
Does 1,000% NRV mean ten times the benefit?
No. %NRV measures quantity relative to a label reference, not the size of an effect. It does not tell you absorption, whether you need the nutrient, how much your diet supplies or whether a higher dose is safer or more effective.
Water-soluble does not mean unlimited or risk-free, and fat-soluble does not mean automatically harmful. Every nutrient has its own safety evidence. For example, UK guidance says not to take more than 10mg vitamin B6 a day from supplements unless advised by a doctor, while iodine guidance warns that high doses over time can alter thyroid function.
What is the difference between NRV and an upper level?
- NRV: a standard adult reference used for nutrition labelling.
- Recommended daily dose: the manufacturer’s directions for that product.
- Health-claim condition: the amount and other requirements attached to a particular authorised claim.
- Safety guidance or upper level: a separate assessment of intake above which risk may increase.
Do not use the NRV as an upper safety limit. A product at 500% NRV is not automatically unsafe, and a product at 100% is not automatically suitable for everyone.
Why do botanicals and amino acids show no %NRV?
No NRV has been established for ingredients such as turmeric, ashwagandha, milk thistle, glucosamine, creatine, collagen or CoQ10. A dash in the NRV column is therefore normal.
Compare those ingredients using:
- the quantity per recommended daily intake;
- the plant part or material used;
- powder versus extract;
- actual extract weight versus starting-material equivalent;
- standardisation markers; and
- the evidence and lawful claim applicable to that exact substance.
How do you calculate %NRV?
Use:
amount supplied ÷ NRV × 100
Example: zinc 3.1mg ÷ zinc NRV 10mg × 100 = 31% NRV.
Check whether the amount is per capsule or per recommended daily portion before calculating.
Five practical checks
- Read the recommended daily portion first.
- Compare the same basis across products—per capsule or per day.
- Use %NRV to compare quantity, not promised results.
- Add overlapping nutrients across all supplements you take.
- Check claim conditions and safety guidance separately.
Related guides
- How to read a UK supplement label
- Which UK supplement health claims are legal?
- How to choose a supplement
Sources
- Assimilated Regulation 1169/2011, Annex XIII: adult NRVs
- GOV.UK nutrition and health-claims guidance
- Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register
- GOV.UK food-supplement guidance
Written by: Barry Lees, founder of The Health Improvers
Last reviewed: 2 August 2026
Food supplements are not substitutes for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Seek professional advice where health conditions, medicines, pregnancy or breastfeeding affect suitability.
0 comments