Vitamin
Vitamin A
Also known as: Retinol, Retinyl palmitate, Retinyl acetate, Beta-carotene
A fat-soluble vitamin essential for vision, immune function, and skin health that the body converts from beta-carotene as needed. Beta-carotene is a plant-derived precursor that acts as an antioxidant and is safer at high doses than preformed retinol.
Last reviewed June 2026 · Evidence graded from peer-reviewed research, not editorial opinion. Educational only — not medical advice.
Every Vitamin A product we have scored
| # | Product | Score | Per serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Codeage A D K Vitamins | 90 A | $0.25 |
| 2 | Life Extension Thyroid Support Complex | 90 A | $0.90 |
| 3 | MegaFood Skin, Nails & Hair 2 | 89 A | $0.87 |
| 4 | Thorne Advanced Nutrients | 88 A | $2.40 |
| 5 | Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day | 88 A | $0.60 |
| 6 | Thorne Basic Prenatal | 88 A | $1.23 |
| 7 | Thorne Men's Multi 50+ | 88 A | $1.87 |
| 8 | Garden of Life Vitamin Code 50 & Wiser Women | 87 A | $1.01 |
| 9 | Thorne MediClear-SGS™ - Vanilla | 86 A- | $2.10 |
| 10 | Transparent Labs Multivitamin | 86 A- | $1.33 |
| 11 | Pure Encapsulations Thyroid Support Complex | 86 A- | $1.25 |
| 12 | Garden of Life Organics Women's Multi 40+ | 86 A- | $1.07 |
Scored on dose accuracy, form, label transparency and third-party testing. Per-serving cost is list price divided by servings per container. No brand pays to be listed or ranked.
Common questions
How much Vitamin A should I take?
The typical range is 2500-5000 IU daily. Long-term at moderate doses
When should I take Vitamin A?
With fat-containing meal. Yes.
Which form of Vitamin A is best?
Retinyl palmitate — Stable, common. Other forms in the catalog: Cod liver oil, Beta-carotene, Mixed carotenoids, Beta-carotene (plant-based), Retinyl acetate, beta-carotene (provitamin A), Retinol Palmitate (preformed), Softgel, Capsule, Tablet, Liquid.
Is Vitamin A safe?
Commonly reported: Well tolerated at normal doses. Serious warnings: Toxicity at high doses, Teratogenic in pregnancy. Stored in liver
Which Vitamin A supplement scores highest?
Codeage A D K Vitamins, at 90/100. Scored on dose accuracy, form, label transparency and third-party testing — no brand pays to be listed or ranked.
Daily target & upper limit
900 mcg / day · UL 3000 mcgVitamin A has an established daily reference intake. See best forms, label synonyms, upper-limit warnings, and top-scoring supplements:
Vitamin A dosage reference →Primary uses
- Vision health
- Immune support
- Skin health
- Cell differentiation
- Wound healing
- Skin repair
- Immune function
- Epithelial health
- Immune barriers
- Respiratory health
- Mucosal immunity
What systematic reviews concluded
Outcomes that systematic reviews of Vitamin A reached a verdict on: 1 with a benefit, 1 with harm reported. Each is quoted from a review and linked to it on PubMed. How these were read.
Reviews found a benefit (1)
“High-dose vitamin A (≥3330 IU/d) was associated with a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation.” PMID 42175407
Harm reported (1)
“Hypervitaminosis A, particularly arising from non-prescription supplement misuse, mimics various disorders and presents commonly with hypercalcemia and neurological dysfunction.” PMID 42176931 · 2 reviews
6 findings from reviews in specific patient groups (such as cancer, pregnancy or surgery) are not shown here.
How it works
- Retinal for vision
- Gene expression regulation
- Immune cell function
- Epithelial tissue maintenance
Dosage
- Typical range
- 2500-5000 IU daily
- Timing
- With fat-containing meal
- With food
- Yes
- Duration
- Long-term at moderate doses
- Special populations
- Caution in pregnancy
Forms
- Retinyl palmitate
- Cod liver oil
- Beta-carotene
- Mixed carotenoids
- Retinyl acetate· 70/100
- Retinol Palmitate (preformed)· 70/100
- Softgel· 70/100
- Capsule· 70/100
- Tablet· 70/100
- Liquid· 70/100
Safety
Common side effects
- Well tolerated at normal doses
Contraindications
- Pregnancy (high doses)
- Liver disease
Products containing Vitamin A
Top-scoring supplements in our catalog that list Vitamin A on the label. Each product is graded on Formulate's ingredient-level rubric — dose accuracy, form, transparency, and third-party testing.
Known interactions
Evidence notes
Essential vitamin with well-established functions
Grade A: Multiple well-designed human trials support the main claims.
Related in Vitamin
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Medical disclaimer. This page is educational and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare provider. Individual needs and risks vary — consult a professional before starting, stopping, or combining supplements, especially if you are pregnant or nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition.