Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)
Also known as: retinyl palmitate, vitamin A palmitate, retinol palmitate, preformed vitamin A
Retinyl palmitate is an ester of retinol and the most common preformed vitamin A used in supplements and multivitamins. Because it is already retinol, it needs no conversion step and is absorbed at roughly 70 to 90 percent from supplements. It is used to support normal vision, immune function, skin turnover, and cell differentiation. Intake is counted in micrograms of retinol activity equivalents (mcg RAE), and because the body stores excess amounts in the liver, preformed vitamin A has a formal upper limit that provitamin A carotenoids do not.
Research summary
Hydrolyzed to retinol, then oxidized to retinoic acid, which acts on nuclear retinoic acid receptors to regulate gene transcription; retinal is the chromophore for rhodopsin in the retina.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 700 mcg | 750–1,050 mcg | 3,000 mcg | 3,000 mcg |
NIH ODS — UL for preformed vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters) is 3,000 mcg RAE/day for adults 19+, from food plus supplements; beta-carotene does not count toward it
Doses are mcg RAE of preformed vitamin A. 1 mcg RAE retinol = 3.33 IU, so 900 mcg RAE = 3,000 IU and the 3,000 mcg UL = 10,000 IU. RDA is 900 mcg RAE for men and 700 mcg RAE for women. Multivitamins commonly carry 750 to 1,050 mcg RAE; stand-alone products at 3,000 mcg RAE sit exactly at the UL, so keep the retinol fraction of a formula well under that. Fat-soluble; absorption improves with a meal containing fat. Doses above 3,000 mcg RAE are not advised during pregnancy.
Source material: synthetic retinyl palmitate (oil or dry beadlets on a starch/gelatin carrier)
As supplied: Supplied as an oil or as dry beadlets of varying potency; raw-material mass per mcg RAE depends on the supplier grade and must be taken from the CoA
Forms of Vitamin A
| Form | Typical dose | Element % | Formats | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) | 750–1,050 mcg | — | Capsule, Softgel, Tablet, Powder, Gummy, Liquid | low |
| Beta-Carotene | 3–15 mg | — | Capsule, Softgel, Tablet, Powder, Gummy, Liquid | low |
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Oil form suits softgels and liquids; dry beadlets are used in tablets, capsules, powders, and gummies.
Formulation notes
Count total preformed vitamin A across all ingredients (cod liver oil, multivitamin premixes) against the 3,000 mcg RAE UL. Retinoid medications add to the load. Often paired with zinc and vitamin D in eye and immune formulas.
- Has an upper limit
- Not for pregnancy
Sources
Related ingredients
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
VitaminAscorbic acid is the reference form of vitamin C and the most common form in supplements; NIH ODS notes its bioavailability equals that of vitamin C naturally present in food.
Typical: 250–1,000 mg
Zinc Gluconate
MineralThe most common zinc salt in multivitamins, lozenges, and immune products, containing about 14.3% elemental zinc.
Typical: 10–25 mg
Zinc Citrate
MineralA zinc salt of citric acid with a relatively high zinc content of about 31%, giving it a compactness advantage over gluconate and picolinate.
Typical: 10–25 mg
Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate)
VitaminSodium ascorbate is the sodium salt of ascorbic acid.
Typical: 250–1,000 mg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
VitaminRiboflavin is the yellow, water-soluble B vitamin that the body builds into the flavin coenzymes FMN and FAD, which drive energy production and the recycling of other vitamins including B6, folate, and niacin.
Typical: 1.3–400 mg