Vitamin A
In the retina vitamin A becomes retinal, which binds a protein to form the light-sensitive pigment rhodopsin.
Full ranking Dose tool Products (4,134)
Key facts
Sources: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/ · FDA DV 900 mcg (https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/daily-value-nutrition-and-supplement-facts-labels); pre-2016 DV [1500] (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/05/27/2016-11867/food-labeling-revision-of-the-nutrition-and-supplement-facts-labels); adult UL 3000 mcg
How it works: How does vitamin A help you see in the dark?
- Food has two kinds: preformed vitamin A (retinol) from animal foods and provitamin A (such as beta-carotene) from plants. Labels use RAE to put them on one scale.
- After absorption it is stored mainly in the liver.
- In the retina, retinal binds opsin to form rhodopsin, which is needed for vision in low light.
- Retinoic acid regulates gene expression and is involved in cell differentiation and immune function.
Schematic only; positions and scale are not anatomical.
Sources: NIH ODS: VitaminA Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
Daily dose across products (mcg/day)
Label data from official national databases and brand websites, as declared; not lab-verified.
Common forms
| Form | Products | Median | P5–P95 | Elemental fraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retinyl palmitate | 1758 | 650 mcg | 90 – 3,000 | — |
| Beta-carotene (supplemental) | 1500 | 1,050 mcg | 65 – 3,750 | — |
| Retinyl acetate | 688 | 1,380 mcg | 200 – 9,240 | — |
| Retinol | 39 | 600 mcg | 30 – 3,000 | — |
Common questions
What is the Daily Value for Vitamin A?
The US FDA Daily Value for adults and children aged 4 and over is 900 mcg. It is a labelling reference, not a personal recommendation. [source]
Is there an upper limit for Vitamin A?
The adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is 3,000 mcg per day. Going above it long term raises the risk of adverse effects. See the linked source. [source]
How much Vitamin A do products usually contain per day?
As of 2026-11-01, 4,134 products list a comparable daily dose (4,758 dose records; one product can have several). The median is 750 mcg per day, and 90% of records fall between 60 and 4,615 mcg. Figures come from labels and are not lab-tested. [source]
How does vitamin A help you see in the dark?
In the retina vitamin A becomes retinal, which binds a protein to form the light-sensitive pigment rhodopsin. Adult UL for preformed vitamin A: 3,000 mcg RAE per day; excess in pregnancy can cause birth defects. Beta-carotene does not count towards the UL. [source]
What are the side effects of Vitamin A?
Too much preformed vitamin A (retinol, retinyl acetate or palmitate) can cause severe headache, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, muscle aches and coordination problems. High beta-carotene intake can turn skin yellow-orange, which is harmless and fades when intake drops. (Source: NIH ODS) [source]
What happens if you take too much Vitamin A?
The adult UL for preformed vitamin A is 3,000 mcg a day from all sources; severe excess can lead to coma and death. Beta-carotene has no UL, but smokers, former smokers and people exposed to asbestos who take high-dose beta-carotene supplements have a higher risk of lung cancer and death. (Source: NIH ODS) [source]
Is Vitamin A safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Too much preformed vitamin A in pregnancy can cause birth defects of the eyes, skull, lungs and heart. If you are or might be pregnant or are breastfeeding, do not take high-dose preformed vitamin A. The recommended amount in pregnancy is 750 (teens) and 770 mcg RAE (women); while breastfeeding, 1,200 and 1,300 mcg RAE. (Source: NIH ODS) [source]
Does Vitamin A interact with medications or other supplements?
Orlistat decreases vitamin A absorption. Acitretin and bexarotene are made from vitamin A, and taking them with a vitamin A supplement could cause dangerously high blood levels. (Source: NIH ODS) [source]
Top ranked
| Rank | Brand | Product | Per day | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vitamin World | Beta-Carotene Provitamin A 10,000 IU | 3,000 mcg | 97.8 |
| 1 | The Vitamin Shoppe | Dry A 10,000 IU | 3,000 mcg | 97.8 |
| 1 | Vitamin World | Vitamin A 10,000 IU | 3,000 mcg | 97.8 |
| 1 | Nature's Bounty | Vitamin A 10,000 IU | 3,000 mcg | 97.8 |
| 1 | Nature Made | Vitamin A 8,000 IU | 2,400 mcg | 97.8 |