Some vitamin A supplements on the market are plant-based forms, like beta-carotene, but most rely on retinyl palmitate, made by combining an ester of retinol with synthesized palmitic acid. Is using retinyl palmitate supplementation to obtain a healthy level of vitamin A both safe and effective, or being a synthetic substance, does it have limitations or toxicity compared to ingesting Vitamin A-rich foods?
DWQA Questions › Category: Healing Modalities › Some vitamin A supplements on the market are plant-based forms, like beta-carotene, but most rely on retinyl palmitate, made by combining an ester of retinol with synthesized palmitic acid. Is using retinyl palmitate supplementation to obtain a healthy level of vitamin A both safe and effective, or being a synthetic substance, does it have limitations or toxicity compared to ingesting Vitamin A-rich foods?
Most people will be able to tolerate taking retinyl palmitate but it is far from ideal on both counts, not being the most potent active form of vitamin A as well as being a synthetic construct to substitute for retinol.
Nicola
