Päiväannos

Päiväannos, literally “daily dose,” is a term used in nutrition, dietary supplements and medicine to denote the amount of a substance that should be consumed or taken within a 24-hour period. It is commonly used to guide how much of a nutrient, vitamin or supplement a person should ingest each day, or how much of a medicine should be taken in a day.

In nutrition and supplements, päiväannos often appears on labels to indicate the recommended daily intake of a nutrient or the amount a consumer should consume to meet nutritional targets. These recommendations may be based on national or international guidelines and can vary by age, sex, and life stage. The daily dose is not identical to the maximum safe intake, and exceeding the day’s dose may be risky.

In medicines, päiväannos describes the amount to be taken in a day, often divided into several doses (for example, one tablet twice daily). It is determined by factors such as weight, age, pregnancy, renal function, and coexisting conditions, and it may differ from the single-dose amount prescribed for a specific illness. The concept helps patients manage long-term therapy and ensures consistent exposure.

Päiväannos should be interpreted with care: it reflects a general guideline and may not apply to every individual. When using supplements or medicines, users should follow the product label or a healthcare professional’s instructions and be aware of interactions, allergies, and potential toxicity. The term emphasizes daily consistency in intake rather than a single large dose.