The ready-made one
Retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate
Vitamin A your body can use right away. It reliably raises levels, but too much can build up.
Good for: Everyday use
What variations of vitamin A exist?
A fat-soluble vitamin that supports vision, skin, and the protective linings of the gut and airways. It comes as ready-made vitamin A (retinol) or as beta-carotene, which the body converts as needed. It comes in 4 forms, and they aren't all the same. Here's how they differ.
For education only. What's right for you depends on your health and your medications, so check with your provider before you start or switch. Book a consult
Our top pick
Every form, in plain words
The ready-made one
Retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate
Vitamin A your body can use right away. It reliably raises levels, but too much can build up.
Good for: Everyday use
The make-your-own one
Beta-carotene
Your body turns only what it needs into vitamin A, so it can't build up to toxic levels. How much it converts varies.
The food-like one
Mixed carotenoids
Beta-carotene plus related plant pigments, closer to what food gives you.
Usually skip
- The easy-to-double-up one (Cod liver oil)Has vitamin A plus D and omega-3s, but amounts vary by brand and are easy to double up on.
Spotting a good one on the shelf
Look for
- Look for 'Retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate' on the label (the ready-made one)
Watch out for
- The label doesn't say how much is ready-made vitamin A (retinol) versus beta-carotene
- Vitamin A in several products at once, such as a multivitamin, cod liver oil, and an immune formula
- High-dose beta-carotene in a product taken by someone who smokes
Check with your provider first if…
- You're pregnant, trying to conceive, or could become pregnant. High amounts of ready-made vitamin A (retinol) can cause birth defects. Beta-carotene doesn't carry this risk.
- You smoke, recently quit, or were exposed to asbestos. High-dose beta-carotene supplements raised lung cancer risk in large studies of smokers.
- You have liver disease or drink heavily
- You take isotretinoin, acitretin, or another vitamin A-type medicine. Don't add vitamin A on top.
- Signs of too much: headache, nausea, dry or peeling skin, bone or joint pain, or blurry vision. Too much retinol over time is also linked to bone loss.
In Dr. Lesher's store
4 products in Dr. Lesher's dispensary have vitamin A. Here's which form, where the label says.
Check with your provider before taking any of these, especially if you're pregnant or take medications.
Vitanica
Bladder Ease (IC Blend)
Has retinyl palmitate (the ready-made one)
750 IU per serving
MegaFood
Baby & Me 2™
Has beta-carotene (the make-your-own one)
625 IU per serving
MegaFood
Baby & Me 2™ Postnatal Multi
Has beta-carotene (the make-your-own one)
562.5 IU per serving
Wellex
Papillex
Has mixed carotenoids (the food-like one)
750 IU per serving
Ready to find the root cause?
Dr. Lesher is a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses on autoimmune and chronic conditions in women. Since 2020, she's helped hundreds of patients stop managing symptoms and start healing.