Vitamin A — the preformed, ready-to-use form your body doesn't have to convert

This is vitamin A as retinol, supplied from Norwegian cod liver oil together with vitamin A palmitate — the preformed, biologically active form, delivering 3,000 mcg RAE (10,000 IU) per softgel. It sidesteps the single biggest limitation of plant-source vitamin A, which the body has to convert before it can use.

Per softgel: Vitamin A (from cod liver oil and vitamin A palmitate) 3,000 mcg RAE (10,000 IU).

Why "preformed" matters

Vitamin A reaches the diet in two ways: as preformed retinol from animal sources, and as beta-carotene (provitamin A) from plants, which the body must convert into retinol. That conversion is inefficient and highly variable — common genetic differences in the BCMO1 enzyme mean a substantial proportion of people convert beta-carotene poorly. Preformed vitamin A removes that step: it arrives ready to use.

What vitamin A actually does

Vitamin A is not one job but several, because in its retinoic-acid form it behaves almost like a hormone — binding nuclear receptors that switch genes on and off to direct how cells mature.

• Vision. Retinal, a form of vitamin A, is the light-sensitive pigment (rhodopsin) in the rod cells of the retina that makes low-light and night vision possible.
• Immune defence. Vitamin A maintains the integrity of the epithelial and mucosal barriers — skin, gut and respiratory linings — that form the body's first physical line of defence, and it supports the function of immune cells behind that barrier.
• Skin. It regulates how skin cells differentiate and turn over, which is why vitamin A and its relatives are so central to skin health.

It is fat-soluble, so it is best taken with a meal containing some fat. Being sourced from cod liver oil, it also carries the naturally occurring nutrients of that oil.

Who it may suit

Adults wanting targeted support for healthy vision, immune defence and skin — especially those who prefer the preformed form over beta-carotene.

Precautions — please read

Vitamin A is fat-soluble and stored in the body, so it should not be taken in excess. Do not use if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding unless directed by your healthcare professional — high-dose preformed vitamin A is not appropriate in pregnancy. Do not take alongside other high-dose vitamin A or retinoid medications. Contains fish (cod). If you have liver disease, consult your healthcare professional first. Always read the label and use only as directed.

This information is educational and describes how the nutrient works in the body. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare professional.