What Is Vitamin A As Retinyl Palmitate?

Retinyl palmitate is a form of Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin derived from retinoids and carotenoids. Also known as palmitate or retinol palmitate, it combines the alcohol of vitamin A, called retinol, and palmitic acid.

Retinyl Palmitate

• In animal by-products, the major form of vitamin A is an ester called retinyl palmitate, which is converted to an alcohol in the small intestine, according to The New World Encyclopedia.

Types

• Retinyl palmitate is a synthetic supplement available in dry or oily form. It can be taken orally or by injection to treat Vitamin A deficiency. Trade names include Aquasol A and Palmitate A, according to Absolute Astronomy.

Dietary Function

• Palmitate is an antioxidant. It replaces the vitamin content of low-fat milk, according to Absolute Astronomy, in order to stabilize the Vitamin A in the milk.

Skincare Function

• Retinyl palmitate is used in topical skin care products. Skin absorbs palmitate and converts it into retinol and retinoic acid, such as with Retin-A.

Warning

• It is a preformed version of vitamin A and can thus be realistically overdosed, unlike beta carotene, according to Absolute Astronomy. Vitamin A deficiency is rare in the industrialized world. Excess dosing may lead to acute or chronic toxicity, says Mayo Clinic.