General Dosage
700 mcg RAE (women) to 900 mcg RAE (men) daily from diet and supplements
Maximum dose: 3,000 mcg RAE/day (10,000 IU) preformed vitamin A (NIH Upper Tolerable Intake Level); beta-carotene has no established UL
Vitamin A Dosage Guide
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Dosage Recommendations
General recommendation: 700 mcg RAE (women) to 900 mcg RAE (men) daily from diet and supplements
Timing: With a fat-containing meal for optimal absorption • Take with food for best absorption.
Dosage by Condition
| Condition | Recommended Dose | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| General health | 700-900 mcg RAE daily | Strong |
| Immune support | 900 mcg RAE daily from food or mixed carotenoids | Strong |
| Skin health | 700-900 mcg RAE daily; topical retinoids separately | Moderate |
| Eye health | 700-900 mcg RAE daily, often combined with lutein and zeaxanthin | Strong |
Upper limit: 3,000 mcg RAE/day (10,000 IU) preformed vitamin A (NIH Upper Tolerable Intake Level); beta-carotene has no established UL
Timing & Absorption
With a fat-containing meal for optimal absorption
Best taken with food for optimal absorption.
References
- Imdad A, Herzer K, Mayo-Wilson E, Yakoob MY, Bhutta ZA (2010). Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from 6 months to 5 years of age. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. DOI PubMed
- Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Research Group (2013). Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the AREDS2 randomized clinical trial. JAMA. DOI PubMed
- Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group (1994). The effect of vitamin E and beta carotene on the incidence of lung cancer and other cancers in male smokers. New England Journal of Medicine. DOI PubMed