Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)

Stable ester form of vitamin A commonly used in supplements and fortified foods

Scientific nameRetinyl Palmitate FormulaC36H60O2 Molecular weight524.86 g/mol CAS79-81-2

90 absorption score

6 safety / 10

12 USD per month

5 documented interactions

Check it against something

Evidence level A

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) with:

84 out of 100

Needs attention Separate by 2-4 hours to avoid the interaction below.

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What it does

mechanism and evidence for each claim

Enhanced stability

More stable than retinol with longer shelf-life

Ester form protects vitamin A from oxidation Evidence A-grade Immediate availability

Consistent bioavailability

Reliable vitamin A activity regardless of genetic factors

Preformed vitamin A doesn't require carotenoid conversion Evidence A-grade 2-4 weeks

Superior for deficiency correction

More effective than beta-carotene for treating deficiency

Direct vitamin A without conversion limitations Evidence A-grade 4-8 weeks

Optimal immune support

Superior immune function compared to carotenoid forms

Direct retinol availability for immune cell function Evidence A-grade 2-6 weeks

Enhanced vision support

Direct support for retinal function and night vision

Immediate availability for rhodopsin synthesis Evidence A-grade 2-4 weeks

Others take these for the same thing

Same goal, different mechanism — check any of them against this one

Probiotics for Autoimmune Disease Support Gut health & immune modulation 10-100 billion CFU daily B 60% Vitamin D3 Bone health & immune support 1000-2000 IU A 85% Zinc Picolinate Superior immune & healing support 15-30 mg A 95% L-Lysine Immune support & collagen synthesis 1-3g A 90% Oregano Oil Powerful respiratory antimicrobial 100-300mg B 85% Oregano Oil for Antimicrobial Protection Antimicrobial & pathogen defense 1-3 drops diluted daily B 75%

Every pair we checked

12 combinations scored by the engine

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Caffeine No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Creatine Monohydrate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Whey Protein No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Iron Sulfate Iron deficiency impairs vitamin A utilization Needs attention 76

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Lactase Improved calcium absorption when consuming dairy Works better together 82

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Bovine Collagen Essential for collagen synthesis and cross-linking Works better together 82

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + DHA Prevents oxidation of DHA and enhances stability Works better together 82

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Vitamin D3 High vitamin D can interfere with vitamin A function Needs attention 84

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) High vitamin D can interfere with vitamin A function Needs attention 88

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) High vitamin D can interfere with vitamin A function Needs attention 88

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Calcium Carbonate Essential for calcium absorption and utilization Works better together 94

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) + Zinc Gluconate Required for vitamin A metabolism and transport Works better together 99

Dosage

With fat containing meal

Daily2500-8000 IU

Maintenance2500-5000 IU

Therapeutic5000-15000 IU (medical supervision)

Deficiency correction10000-25000 IU (medical supervision)

Pregnancy limit8000 IU maximum daily

Upper limit 3000 mcg RAE NIH ODS

Before you take it

Pregnancyavoid high doses — teratogenic

VeganYes

When to expect it

First Effects2-4 weeks for immune and vision benefits

Peak Benefits6-12 weeks for optimal vitamin A status

Deficiency Development6-24 months depending on stores

Toxicity OnsetWeeks to months with excessive intake

How to measure it

$40-80

MarkerSerum retinol

Optimal30-80 μg/dL (1.05-2.8 μmol/L)

Deficient below<20 μg/dL (<0.7 μmol/L)

FrequencyEvery 6-12 months if supplementing regularly

What people actually reported to the FDA

CAERS, 34 reports naming it as the suspect

Most reported effects

Dizziness 5

Headache 4

Vomiting 4

Abdominal pain 4

Nausea 3

Named as the suspect 34 reports of 187 that mention it at all

Serious outcome 78% hospitalisation, emergency room or worse

Other Serious or Important Medical Event29

Visited a Health Care Provider10

Hospitalization8

Reports are voluntary and unverified — they record what someone experienced while taking something, not what the compound caused. Counts skew towards products people take a lot of, and a serious outcome is more likely to be reported than a mild one, so these are not rates. How we filter them →

Works better with

3 documented

Vitamin D

Both fat-soluble vitamins work together in gene regulation

Balance needed for optimal gene transcription · level A

Vitamin E

Protects vitamin A from oxidation

Antioxidant protection during absorption and storage · level A

Zinc

Required for vitamin A metabolism and transport

Cofactor for retinol-binding protein synthesis · level A

What not to take with Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)

2 documented

Vitamin D Excess

High vitamin D can interfere with vitamin A function

Competition for similar nuclear receptors · moderate significance

Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency impairs vitamin A utilization

Iron required for vitamin A metabolism · moderate significance

Medication interactions

Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining

isotretinoin-retinoids Major

Increased risk of vitamin A toxicity

What to do: Avoid supplementation during retinoid therapy

anticoagulants Moderate

High doses may enhance anticoagulant effects

What to do: Monitor clotting times with high doses

cholesterol-medications Minor

May reduce vitamin A absorption

What to do: Take vitamin A away from cholesterol medications

Available forms

bioavailability compared

Retinyl Palmitate 90

Retinyl Palmitate: Stable form, Consistent potency, Superior for deficiency, No conversion needed

Food sources

before you supplement

Beef liver 16898 IU per 100g · 95

Fish liver oils Variable, very high amounts · 90

Fortified foods Variable, usually retinyl palmitate · 85

Dairy products Variable, 100-500 IU per serving · 90

Too little

deficiency signs

Night blindness and vision problems
Frequent infections and poor immunity
Dry skin and mucous membranes
Poor wound healing
Growth retardation in children
Xerophthalmia and corneal damage

Too much

toxicity signs

Acute: nausea, vomiting, headache
Chronic: liver damage and fibrosis
Hair loss and skin changes
Bone pain and fractures
Birth defects (pregnancy)
Pseudotumor cerebri

Who benefits most

vitamin-a-deficiency

Most effective form for correcting true vitamin A deficiency

5000-10000 IU daily (medical supervision)

poor-carotenoid-converters

Bypasses genetic limitations in beta-carotene conversion

2500-5000 IU daily

immune-system-support

Superior immune benefits compared to carotenoid forms

2500-8000 IU daily

vision-health-focused

Direct support for retinal function and night vision

2500-5000 IU daily

malabsorption-disorders

Better absorbed than carotenoid forms in GI disorders

5000-15000 IU daily (medical supervision)

Where to buy it

compare forms first

Look for Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) at 2500-8000 IU per serving. The form that matters here is Retinyl Palmitate.

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How it works

Hydrolyzed to retinol by pancreatic and intestinal enzymes
Stored in liver as retinyl esters
Converted to active retinal and retinoic acid as needed
Binds to retinol-binding protein for transport
Functions in gene transcription via retinoic acid receptors
Essential for rhodopsin synthesis in retina

Key findings

what the evidence supports

Essential for immune function and vision (established science)
Superior to beta-carotene for treating deficiency
Can cause toxicity at high doses (well-documented)
Critical for child development and maternal health

Sources: NIH Examine.com · data reviewed 2026-08-02

Compiled by Denis, who maintains this database and holds no medical qualification — every figure here is sourced or derived, never asserted. How we calculate it →

Common questions

What are the benefits of Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)?

Documented effects: Enhanced stability; Consistent bioavailability; Superior for deficiency correction; Optimal immune support. More stable than retinol with longer shelf-life

How much Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) should you take per day?

The common daily range is 2500-8000 IU. By goal — maintenance: 2500-5000 IU; therapeutic: 5000-15000 IU (medical supervision); deficiency correction: 10000-25000 IU (medical supervision); pregnancy limit: 8000 IU maximum daily.

When is the best time to take Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)?

With fat containing meal. First effects are typically reported within 2-4 weeks for immune and vision benefits.

What are the side effects of Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)?

At excessive doses: Acute: nausea, vomiting, headache, Chronic: liver damage and fibrosis, Hair loss and skin changes, Bone pain and fractures, Birth defects (pregnancy). Safety rating at normal doses is 6 out of 10.

What should you not take with Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)?

Separate it from Vitamin D Excess, Iron Deficiency by two to four hours. High vitamin D can interfere with vitamin A function

Does Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) interact with medications?

Documented interactions with isotretinoin-retinoids, anticoagulants, cholesterol-medications. Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining.

How much Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) is too much?

The tolerable upper intake level is 3000 mcg RAE per day for adults, per NIH ODS. Above that, the risk of adverse effects rises: Acute: nausea, vomiting, headache, Chronic: liver damage and fibrosis, Hair loss and skin changes.

How do you know if you need Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)?

The marker is Serum retinol, optimal range 30-80 μg/dL (1.05-2.8 μmol/L). Common deficiency signs: Night blindness and vision problems, Frequent infections and poor immunity, Dry skin and mucous membranes, Poor wound healing.

Taken for

59 Immunity

Vitamin D3 · Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) · Comprehensive Immune Support Complex