Tag: Iu vs rae

The recommended daily intake of vitamin A varies depending on several factors, including age, gender, and life stage. While International Units (IU) have been historically used, Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE) are now the standard measurement on nutrition labels for greater accuracy. The tolerable upper intake level for adults is generally set at 10,000 IU (3,000 mcg RAE) per day.

According to nutritional experts, the exact amount of vitamin A in retinyl palmitate depends on a conversion factor that accounts for its biological activity. As a stored form of the vitamin, retinyl palmitate is an ester of retinol and palmitic acid, and its potency is measured differently than pure retinol. Understanding these conversion metrics, including International Units (IU) and Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE), is key to determining its actual vitamin A content for both dietary and topical applications.