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Description
Curator's Comment: description was created based on several sources, including: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_A

Vitamin A is important for growth and development as well as maintenance of the immune system and good vision. Vitamin A is needed by the retina of the eye in the form of retinal, which combines with the protein opsin to form rhodopsin. Together Vitamin A and Rhodopsin form the light-absorbing molecule necessary for both low-light (scotopic vision) and color vision. Vitamin A also functions in a very different role as retinoic acid (an irreversibly oxidized form of retinol) which is an important hormone-like growth factor for epithelial and other cells. In foods of animal origin, the major form of vitamin A is an ester, primarily retinyl palmitate, which is converted to retinol (chemically an alcohol) in the small intestine. The retinol form functions as a storage form of the vitamin, and can be converted to and from its visually active aldehyde form, retinal. Vitamin A is effective for the treatment of Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A refers to a group of fat-soluble substances that are structurally related to and possess the biological activity of the parent substance of the group called all-trans retinol or retinol. Vitamin A plays vital roles in vision, epithelial differentiation, growth, reproduction, pattern formation during embryogenesis, bone development, hematopoiesis and brain development. It is also important for the maintenance of a proper functioning immune system. The precise mechanism of action of vitamin A differs based on the biological use case, and some mechanisms are better known than others. To facilitate vision Vitamin A (all-trans retinol) is converted in the retina to the 11-cis-isomer of retinaldehyde or 11-cis-retinal. 11-cis-retinal functions in the retina contributing to the transduction of light into the neural signals necessary for vision. While attached to opsin in rhodopsin 11-cis-retinal is isomerized to all-trans-retinal by light which triggers the nerve impulse to the brain allowing for the perception of light. All-trans-retinal is then released from opsin and reduced to all-trans-retinol. All-trans-retinol is isomerized to 11-cis-retinol in the absence of light and then oxidized to 11-cis-retinal. 11-cis-retinal recombines with opsin to re-form rhodopsin. Night blindness or defective vision at low illumination results from a failure to re-synthesize 11-cis retinal rapidly. During epithelial differentiation the role of Vitamin A (as in other physiological processes) involves the binding of Vitamin A to two families of nuclear retinoid receptors (retinoic acid receptors, RARs; and retinoid-X receptors, RXRs). These receptors function as ligand-activated transcription factors that modulate gene transcription. When there is not enough Vitamin A to bind these receptors, natural cell differentiation and growth are interrupted.

CNS Activity

Curator's Comment: Evidence indicates that retinol is transported by retinol binding protein across the blood–brain barrier and blood–CSF barrier to the CNS

Approval Year

Targets

Targets

Primary TargetPharmacologyConditionPotency
Target ID: O95237
Gene ID: 9227.0
Gene Symbol: LRAT
Target Organism: Homo sapiens (Human)
Target ID: Q96NR8
Gene ID: 145226.0
Gene Symbol: RDH12
Target Organism: Homo sapiens (Human)
Target ID: Q92781
Gene ID: 5959.0
Gene Symbol: RDH5
Target Organism: Homo sapiens (Human)
Conditions

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
Preventing
Unknown

Approved Use

Unknown
Preventing
Unknown

Approved Use

Unknown
Preventing
Unknown

Approved Use

Unknown
Primary
AQUASOL A

Approved Use

Used to treat and prevent symptoms of vitamin A deficiency such as xerophthalmia and night blindness. Used as a dietary supplement to prevent vitamin A deficiency in patients with GI diseases (e.g., malabsorption syndromes) and those with abnormal storage and transport of vitamin A (e.g., abetalipoproteinemia, protein deficiency, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, fever, liver disease, cystic fibrosis with hepatic involvement).

Launch Date

-6.5093763E11
Palliative
AQUASOL A

Approved Use

Children with severe measles have been found to have low serum concentrations of vitamin A; WHO and AAP recommend that vitamin A supplements be given to all children with acute measles, regardless of their country of residence.

Launch Date

-6.5093763E11
Primary
Unknown

Approved Use

Unknown
Primary
Unknown

Approved Use

Unknown
PubMed

PubMed

TitleDatePubMed
McCollum Award Lecture, 1992: vitamin A absorption, transport, cellular uptake, and storage.
1992 Oct
Effects of excess vitamin A on development of cranial neural crest-derived structures: a neonatal and embryologic study.
2000 Oct
Effects of beta-carotene and vitamin A on oval cell proliferation and connexin 43 expression during hepatic differentiation in the rat(1).
2001 Dec
[Hypercalcemia due to chronic vitamin A use by an elderly patient with renal insufficiency].
2001 Jan 13
Use of vitamin supplements and cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.
2001 Jul
Retrospective analysis of drug-induced urticaria and angioedema: a survey of 2287 patients.
2001 Nov
The anemia of vitamin A deficiency: epidemiology and pathogenesis.
2002 Apr
[Treatment of acne with consequences -- pseudotumor cerebri due to hypervitaminosis A].
2002 Jan 9
[Basic aspects and measurement of the antioxidant vitamins A and E].
2002 Sep
Retinoid receptors and vitamin A deficiency: differential patterns of transcription during early avian development and the rapid induction of RARs by retinoic acid.
2003 Aug 15
PPARbeta regulates vitamin A metabolism-related gene expression in hepatic stellate cells undergoing activation.
2003 Feb
Impact of 'Mad Cow Disease' publicity on trends in meat and total vitamin A consumption in Geneva between 1993 and 2000.
2003 Jan
Retinol-induced mdr1 and mdr3 modulation in cultured rat Sertoli cells is attenuated by free radical scavengers.
2004
Modulation of resistin expression by retinoic acid and vitamin A status.
2004 Apr
Age differences in vitamin A intake among Canadian Inuit.
2004 Nov-Dec
Alcohol, vitamin A, and cancer.
2005 Apr
Vitamin A status in mice affects the histone code of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene in liver.
2005 Dec
Inhibitory effects of vitamin A on TCDD-induced cytochrome P-450 1A1 enzyme activity and expression.
2005 May
Retinol inhibits the growth of all-trans-retinoic acid-sensitive and all-trans-retinoic acid-resistant colon cancer cells through a retinoic acid receptor-independent mechanism.
2005 Nov 1
Retinoid metabolism during development of liver cirrhosis.
2005 Nov 15
Regulation of a highly specific retinoic acid-4-hydroxylase (CYP26A1) enzyme and all-trans-retinoic acid metabolism in human intestinal, liver, endothelial, and acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.
2005 Oct
Effects of nitrofen and vitamins A, C and E on maturation of cultured human H441 pneumocytes.
2006
The effect of vitamin A on CCl4-induced hepatic injuries in rats: a histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.
2006
Vitamin A improves Pax3 expression that is decreased in the heart of rats with experimental diaphragmatic hernia.
2006 Feb
The acute and chronic toxic effects of vitamin A.
2006 Feb
Hypervitaminosis A-induced liver fibrosis: stellate cell activation and daily dose consumption.
2006 Mar
Retinol palmitate protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting apoptosis.
2019
Patents

Sample Use Guides

Retinol should be administered orally or by intramuscular injection. For skin conditions retinol is applied topically.
Route of Administration: Other
Kinetic analyses of retinol esterification by lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) were carried out by measuring the rates of 3H-all-trans-retinyl ester formation under conditions where 3H-all-trans-retinol was varied at saturating lecithin concentrations. LRAT catalyzes esterification of retinol with Km of 0.94 uM.
Substance Class Mixture
Created
by admin
on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
Edited
by admin
on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
Record UNII
81G40H8B0T
Record Status Validated (UNII)
Record Version
  • Download
Name Type Language
VITAMIN A
FCC   GREEN BOOK   MART.   ORANGE BOOK   USP   VANDF  
Common Name English
LUTAVIT A
Common Name English
VITAMIN A [VANDF]
Common Name English
VITAMIN A [EP MONOGRAPH]
Common Name English
VITAMIN A (NATURAL) [VANDF]
Common Name English
PROVITAMIN A
Common Name English
CHOCOLA A
Common Name English
VITAMIN A, UNSPECIFIED FORM
Common Name English
VITAMIN A [ORANGE BOOK]
Common Name English
VIATMIN A [VANDF]
Common Name English
VITAMIN A CONCENTRATE [WHO-IP]
Common Name English
VITAMIN A [FCC]
Common Name English
VITAMIN A [GREEN BOOK]
Common Name English
HYDROVIT A
Common Name English
ROVIMIX A 500
Common Name English
VITAMIN A [USP MONOGRAPH]
Common Name English
MICROVIT A
Common Name English
VITAMIN A [MART.]
Common Name English
Classification Tree Code System Code
NDF-RT N0000006269
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
CFR 21 CFR 862.1805
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
NDF-RT N0000006269
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
WHO-ATC V04CB01
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
DSLD 3315 (Number of products:1063)
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
NDF-RT N0000006269
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
NDF-RT N0000006269
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
NDF-RT N0000006269
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
CFR 21 CFR 101.78
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
FDA ORPHAN DRUG 546216
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
CFR 21 CFR 184.1930
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
WHO-VATC QV04CB01
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
DSLD 2698 (Number of products:2377)
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
LIVERTOX NBK548165
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
NDF-RT N0000175950
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
DSLD 201 (Number of products:4964)
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
Code System Code Type Description
ECHA (EC/EINECS)
234-328-2
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
EPA CompTox
DTXSID301014459
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
DRUG BANK
DB00162
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
EVMPD
SUB16102MIG
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
LACTMED
Vitamin A
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
ChEMBL
CHEMBL986
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
DAILYMED
81G40H8B0T
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
CAS
11103-57-4
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
CHEBI
17616
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
RXCUI
11246
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY RxNorm
WIKIPEDIA
VITAMIN A
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
EVMPD
SUB05791MIG
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
NCI_THESAURUS
C938
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
MESH
D014801
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
FDA UNII
81G40H8B0T
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
CHEBI
17336
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY
WHO INTERNATIONAL PHARMACOPEIA
VITAMIN A
Created by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023 , Edited by admin on Wed Jul 05 23:46:36 UTC 2023
PRIMARY Description: A yellow to brownish yellow, oily liquid.Solubility: Practically insoluble in water; soluble or partly soluble in dehydrated ethanol R; miscible with organic solvents.Category: Vitamin.Storage: The oily form of Retinol concentrate should be kept in a well-closed and well-filled container, protected from light. Oncethe container has been opened its contents should be used as soon as possible; any part of the contents not used at once shouldbe protected by an atmosphere of inert gas.Labelling: The designation on the container should state the name of the retinol ester or esters, and their quantities expressed asthe content of vitamin A in International Units (IU) per gram, whether any stabilizing agents are added and their quantities, as wellas the method of restoring the solution if partial crystallization has occurred.Additional information: Even in the absence of light the oily form of Retinol concentrate is gradually degraded on exposure to ahumid atmosphere, the decomposition being faster at higher temperatures.Partial crystallization may occur in concentrated solutions and upon refrigeration.
Related Record Type Details
PARENT -> CONSTITUENT ALWAYS PRESENT
PARENT -> CONSTITUENT ALWAYS PRESENT
DERIVATIVE -> PARENT
PARENT -> CONSTITUENT ALWAYS PRESENT
PARENT -> CONSTITUENT ALWAYS PRESENT
PARENT -> CONSTITUENT ALWAYS PRESENT
Related Record Type Details
ACTIVE MOIETY
Definition References