Roll Call

“Vitamin A (as Acetate and 11% Beta Carotene)?”Here!Vitamin A

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Appears in 1 scanned product.

As a supplement

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Roll Call does not check drug interactions or assess personal safety.

A blended vitamin A source combining retinyl acetate, a synthetic preformed vitamin A compound, with a smaller portion (about 11 percent) supplied as beta-carotene, a plant-derived pigment the body can convert into vitamin A as needed.

Why it’s used

Taken to meet vitamin A requirements, which support vision, immune function, and cell growth.

What the evidence is for

preventing and correcting vitamin A deficiency.

What the evidence says

NIH ODS confirms vitamin A is essential and that deficiency, though rare in well-nourished populations, can affect vision and immune function. The preformed (retinyl acetate) portion is absorbed directly and contributes to intake more predictably than beta-carotene, whose conversion efficiency varies between people. Evidence for benefits beyond correcting or preventing deficiency, in people who are not deficient, is limited.

Dose studied

900–3000 mcg — adult RDA (mcg RAE) up to the tolerable upper intake level, per NIH ODS.

Context

NIH ODS expresses requirements and upper limits in micrograms of Retinol Activity Equivalents (mcg RAE), a unit that accounts for the different conversion rates of preformed vitamin A and beta-carotene; high-dose beta-carotene supplementation has also been studied specifically in smokers, where large trials found an increased lung cancer signal rather than a benefit.

Rumors

  1. Taking a vitamin A supplement helps people with age-related macular degeneration.

    Supports — suggestivehealth and safety evidence

    Studied in: people with early or intermediate age-related macular degeneration.

    Measured as an outcome.

    Who’s saying this

    • WebMD — a publisher: health information publisher; an Internet Brands company
      How we know who this is
      • “As a leader in digital health publishing for more than 25 years, WebMD strives to maintain the most comprehensive and reliable source of health and medical information on the internet.” (their page)
      • “© 2005 - 2026 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company.” (their page)