What’s the Difference Between Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene?

Vitamin A comes in two different forms. Preformed vitamin A is found in animal products. Pro-vitamin A is found in plant-based foods. The most common type of pro-vitamin A is beta-carotene.

What Are the Health Benefits of Vitamin A?

Vitamin A helps your body maintain healthy skin, hair, teeth, eyes, skeletal and soft tissue, and mucus membranes. It can also help stimulate the production of white blood cells, regulate cell growth and reproduction, and support the function of the heart, organs, and lungs.

Beta-carotene also acts as an antioxidant in the body and helps protect cells from free radicals and oxidative damage.

Vitamin A for Eye Health

Vitamin A is known for its role in supporting eye health, and it is sometimes called retinol because it produces the pigments in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A benefits for eye health can include:

• Helping your eyes adjust more easily under low light conditions.
• Helping maintain a clear cornea, which is the outer surface of your eye.
• Supporting the cornea by acting as one of the key components of rhodopsin, a protein found within the eye.

Which Foods Provide Vitamin A?

Many common food sources naturally include vitamin A, including:

• Spinach
• Sweet potatoes
• Herring and salmon
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Red bell pepper
• Mango

If you aren’t getting enough vitamin A from diet alone, a supplement may help.

How Much Vitamin A Do I Need?

The amount of vitamin A you need depends on many factors, including your biological sex, and can be influenced by your current health status. Whether you’re looking for vitamin A for eyes or other reasons, please consult with your registered health practitioner to determine what the right amount of vitamin A is for you.

Find Vitamin A Supplements at The Vitamin Shoppe

Keep your eyes healthy with vitamin A supplements from popular brands such as Carlson Laboratories, Solaray, and The Vitamin Shoppe’s proprietary product line. Find products available in capsule, tablet, and softgel formats ranging from 60- to 300-count per bottle. Choose the strength you want, as well, from 5000 IU to 25000 IU. Look for basic vitamin A and beta carotene supplements, or explore formulas that incorporate other ingredients such as vitamin D, lutein, and lycopene for additional support.

Browse our full selection of vitamin A supplements and other letter vitamins online or talk to a Health Enthusiast at your local The Vitamin Shoppe store for additional assistance.