What is Vitamin A (Vitamin A)?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin from the retinoid group; its main pre-formed forms are retinol and its esters (retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate) and plant-based provitamin A carotenoids (beta-carotene). It is essential for vision, immunity, cell differentiation, and epithelial tissue health. Being fat-soluble, it is stored in the liver and can accumulate with excessive intake.
- CAS number (main form): 79-81-2
- Molecular formula: C₃₆H₆₀O₂
- Forms in the catalog: BASF
What is Vitamin A used for? Why is it used?
Vitamin A is an indispensable micronutrient for vision, immunity, and epithelial tissue health, and deficiency can develop in cases of insufficient/imbalanced nutrition. Ester forms (acetate powder matrices, palmitate for oily products) provide stability and dosing flexibility. However, since it is fat-soluble and stored, it is important to keep the dose within NRV/UL limits.
Forms and Differences
Vitamin A is offered in different chemical forms; form selection is made based on bioavailability, stability, and intended use:
- Retinyl acetate: The acetic acid ester of retinol. More stable in powder/dry form, widely used in standard supplements and food fortification. Since its molecular weight is lower than retinol, it provides a higher IU/retinol equivalent (RE) per unit weight; used in water-in-oil emulsions/encapsulated powders (250,000–500,000 IU/g).
- Retinyl palmitate: The palmitic acid ester of retinol; it is the main storage form in the body. It has high fat solubility, making it suitable for liquid/oily matrices and oil fortification. Due to the long fatty acid chain, its retinol content per unit weight is lower than acetate.
- Retinol (free alcohol): The active alcohol form of Vitamin A; it is the reference molecule. It is released via hydrolysis in the intestine from esters (acetate/palmitate). Since it is highly prone to oxidation in free form, ester forms are generally preferred in commercial products.
- Beta-carotene (provitamin A): Plant-based provitamin A; it converts to retinol in the body as needed. Unlike pre-formed Vitamin A, it has a lower risk of toxicity/accumulation, and EFSA evaluates it separately for UL.
Use in Dietary Supplements
- Forms used: Retinyl palmitate and retinyl acetate are most commonly used in supplements; powder forms (e.g., 250,000–500,000 IU/g) are suitable for tablet/capsule production, while liquid forms are suitable for drop products.
- Dosage and unit: IU and µg RE are used together on labels (1 µg retinol = 3.33 IU). The NRV for adults is 800 µg RE; supplements are typically formulated to provide a portion or the full amount of the NRV. The EFSA UL value for pre-formed Vitamin A in adults is 3,000 µg RE/day.
- For whom: Used in cases of insufficient intake, malabsorption (Crohn's, celiac, fat malabsorption disorders), or increased needs. Pregnant women should avoid high doses of pre-formed Vitamin A (risk of teratogenicity).
- Mode of intake: Since it is a fat-soluble vitamin, absorption increases when taken with a meal containing fat.
Use in the Food Industry
- Fortification: Retinyl palmitate and retinyl acetate have been used for decades to fortify basic foods such as vegetable oils, margarine, milk, cereals/flour, and sugar; palmitate is preferred for oil-based matrices, and acetate for dry/powder matrices.
- Stability and encapsulation: Retinyl esters are sensitive to light, oxygen, and heat; therefore, beadlets/microencapsulated powders with added antioxidants (e.g., tocopherol) and coated with gelatin/starch are used; stability is high in water-in-oil emulsions.
- Authorized vitamin source: Retinyl acetate and retinyl palmitate are among the authorized Vitamin A sources in EU food supplements and fortification legislation.
Effects on Health
Vitamin A plays a role in many fundamental functions in the body. The main functions authorized/evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA):
- Normal vision: Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal vision (EFSA authorized health claim); it is required for the retinal rhodopsin cycle. Deficiency leads to night blindness and xerophthalmia.
- Immune system: Vitamin A contributes to the normal function of the immune system (EFSA authorized); it plays a role in epithelial barrier and cellular immune response.
- Skin and mucosal health: Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes (EFSA authorized); it is essential for the integrity of epithelial tissues.
- Iron metabolism: Vitamin A contributes to normal iron metabolism (EFSA authorized); it plays a role in the mobilization of iron from stores.
- Cell differentiation: Vitamin A (via retinoic acid) plays a role in the normal process of cell specialization/differentiation (EFSA authorized).
Usage Limits in Dietary Supplements
- Nutrient Reference Value (NRV): NRV (1169/2011, Annex XIII): Vitamin A 800 µg RE.
- Upper Intake Level (EFSA): EFSA UL (pre-formed Vitamin A, retinol): adults 3,000 µg RE/day (maintained in the 2024 opinion). Separate evaluation is made for beta-carotene.
- Turkish legislation (TETGK): Within the scope of the Turkish Dietary Supplements Regulation, Vitamin A is an authorized vitamin and must be declared on the label as µg/NRV%; for the exact maximum amount per product, current Regulation annexes and TİTCK/Ministry of Agriculture guidelines should be taken as basis (a single official number could not be confirmed in this research — no fabricated values have been provided).
Fat-soluble → accumulates in the liver, there is a risk of chronic toxicity (hypervitaminosis A: liver damage, bone effects) with excessive intake. High doses of pre-formed Vitamin A are teratogenic during pregnancy; it should be used with caution during this period.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Purity | ≥500,000IU/g |
| Appearance | Flowing Powder from Light Yellow to Yellow |
| Moisture | ≤5.0 % |
| Solubility | Fat Soluble |
Scientific Studies
The following independent studies relate to the bioavailability, use, and effects of this vitamin (study types are specified):
- PubMed 38846679 — Tolerable upper intake level for pre-formed Vitamin A and beta-carotene (EFSA scientific opinion, 2024)
- PubMed 25008466 — Rapid degradation of Vitamin A in soybean oil fortified with retinyl palmitate under household conditions (food stability study)
Technical Documents and Supply — Asuka Kimya
You can contact Asuka Kimya for SDS, TDS, CoA and supply conditions for Vitamin A.
References
- efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
- efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
- ods.od.nih.gov
- eur-lex.europa.eu
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The usage and health information on this page has been compiled from official legislation/institution sources (EFSA, NIH ODS, Turkish Food Codex, EUR-Lex) and independent scientific publications (PubMed). The product is a food supplement/food raw material; it does not aim to diagnose or treat diseases.