Guide for Abbreviations, Measures and Conversions

Conversions and useful figures

• 1 Kilogram = 1,000g = 2.21lb
• 500g = 1.11lb
• 250g = 8oz
• 125g = 4oz
• 60 = 2oz
• 1 litre = 1,000ml = 1.76 Imperial/UK pints = 2.11 US liquid pints
• 500ml = 1.06 US liquid pints = 0.88 Imperial/UK pints
• 250ml = ½ US liquid pint = 0.44 Imperial/UK pint
• 125ml = ½ US liquid pint = 0.22 Imperial/UK pint
• 1 stone = 14 pounds
• 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
• 1 kilogram = 1 litre
• 1 pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories
• 1 kilogram of fat is equivalent to 7,700 calories

Symbols

• BW = body weight
• g or gr = gram
• h or hr = hour
• Kcal = calorie
• L or Ltr = litre
• m = metre
• min = minute
• mg = milligram (1,000 mg = 1 gr)
• ml = millilitre
• mmol = millimole
• mph = miles per hour
• sec = seconds
• tbsp = tablespoon
• tsp = teaspoon
• dl = decilitre (10dl = 1L)
• < = less than
• = more than
• °C = degree Celcius

Energy content of nutrients

• 1g carbohydrate contains an average of 4 calories
• 1g protein contains an average of 4 calories
• 1g fat contains an average of 9 calories
• 1g alcohol contains an average of 7 calories

Abbreviations and measures

• Throughout this course calories mean kilocalories (kcals)
• Calories with a capital "C" also means kilocalories (kcals)
• 1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz); 2.2lb = 1 kilogram (kg)
• 1 Imperial/UK pint = 0.57 litres
• 1 US liquid pint = 0.47 litres
• 1 l = 2.11 US liquid pint
• 1 l = 1.76 Imperial/UK pint
• 1 gram (g) = 1,000 milligrams (mg) = 1,000,000 micrograms (mcg, also written µg).

Examples: 1 gram (g) of vitamin C = 1,000mg. Or 400mcg of Folic Acid = 0.4 mg.
All vitamins are measured in milligrams or micrograms. Vitamins A, D and E used to be measured in International Units (IU), a measurement designed to standardise the various forms of these vitamins that have different potencies. Although these are obsolete, they are still used on labels, especially for vitamins E and D.

• 100IU of vitamin D = 2.5mcg
• 100IU of vitamin E = 67mg

For the EU RDA’s, the equivalents are as follows:

• 800mcg of vitamin A = 2400IU
• 5mcg of vitamin D = 200IU
• 12mg of vitamin E = 18IU

6mcg of betacarotene, the vegetable precursor of vitamin A, is, on average, converted into 1mcg of retinol, the animal form of vitamin A. So, 6mcg of betacarotene is called 1mcgRE (RE stands for “retinol equivalent”).

Betacarotene can be expressed in mcgRE.

• 1mcg of retinol (mcgRE) = 3.3IU of vitamin A
• 1mcgRE of betacarotene = 6mcg of betacarotene

AUTHOR: Alex Ruani, Research Director

Updated on: 15/10/2026