Vitamin A (as Retinol Acetate)

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble essential vitamin found in liver, dairy, and orange-fleshed vegetables that drives cell turnover, immune regulation and skin repair, making it a foundational nutrient for women 35+. In element3 Rise (AM Formula), vitamin A is provided as retinyl acetate at 0.7mg, the full RDI, supporting normal immune function, vision and skin cell renewal.

Vitamin A (as Retinol Acetate)

[ 01 ] Key Facts

Dose in element3 element3 Rise: 0.7mg (700mcg RAE)
Form Retinyl acetate — preformed vitamin A, immediately bioavailable
Signs you may need more Dry or rough skin, frequent minor infections, poor night vision, slow wound healing
Safe range 0.7mg daily for adult women; upper intake level 3mg/day (retinol). Preformed vitamin A should not exceed upper limits during pregnancy.

Food sources

  • Liver
  • Sweet Potato
  • Carrots
  • Spinach

[ 02 ] Rationale

Why this ingredient is in element3

Vitamin A is not a single nutrient — it is a family of compounds (retinoids) that regulate some of the most fundamental processes in human biology: cell differentiation, immune cell maturation, and epithelial tissue maintenance. Every time your body replaces a skin cell, mounts an immune response, or adjusts to changing light conditions, vitamin A is involved.

The retinyl acetate form in element3 Rise is preformed vitamin A, meaning it does not require the enzymatic conversion that plant-based beta-carotene demands. This is a significant distinction. The conversion of beta-carotene to retinol is highly variable between individuals — genetic polymorphisms in the BCMO1 gene mean that up to 45% of the population converts beta-carotene poorly. By providing preformed retinol, element3 Rise ensures consistent bioavailability regardless of genetic background.

Vitamin A’s immune function extends beyond the generalised “immune support” claim. Retinol is essential for the differentiation and function of T-cells, the production of secretory IgA (the antibody that protects mucosal surfaces), and the maintenance of epithelial barriers in the gut, respiratory tract, and skin. Vitamin A supports the barriers that form the body’s first line of defence.

Within the element3 Rise formula, vitamin A complements the broader antioxidant and cellular health stack. Vitamin C supports collagen synthesis that vitamin A’s cell turnover depends upon. Vitamin E protects the fat-soluble vitamin A from oxidative degradation. Selenium supports the immune system that vitamin A helps regulate. Together, these create a layered system of cellular protection and renewal.

[ 03 ] At 35+

Relevant at 35+

Cell turnover slows measurably after 35. The skin cell renewal cycle, which takes approximately 28 days in your 20s, extends to 40–60 days by your 40s. This deceleration is visible as dullness, slower healing, and reduced skin resilience — but it also reflects deeper changes in how the body maintains and repairs all epithelial tissues, including the gut lining and respiratory mucosa.

During perimenopause, hormonal shifts compound this slowdown. Oestrogen supports retinoid signalling in the skin and other tissues, so as oestrogen levels fluctuate and decline, the vitamin A-dependent pathways that drive cell differentiation become less efficient. The immune system is similarly affected: cortisol dysregulation from HPA axis stress suppresses the very immune cell populations (particularly T-cells and mucosal IgA) that depend on adequate vitamin A for their development and function.

For women experiencing the fatigue, increased illness frequency, and skin changes that characterise the mid-30s to 40s transition, vitamin A is one of the foundational nutrients that supports the body’s ability to renew and defend itself.

[ 04 ] Your Questions

Your Questions

What is vitamin A?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble essential nutrient that exists in two forms in the diet: preformed vitamin A (retinol, found in animal foods) and provitamin A carotenoids (such as beta-carotene, found in plant foods and converted to retinol in the body). It is essential for vision — particularly low-light vision — immune function, skin cell turnover, and gene expression. Vitamin A also plays a critical regulatory role in reproduction and foetal development, making it important throughout women’s reproductive years.

What are the benefits of taking vitamin A?
Vitamin A supports immune defence by maintaining the integrity of mucosal barriers (skin, gut, respiratory tract) that are the body’s first line of protection against infection. It is essential for skin cell turnover, wound healing, and the production of sebum, making it relevant for normal skin health. It also supports vision, particularly night vision, and plays a regulatory role in the expression of genes involved in growth, metabolism, and cellular differentiation.

What are the benefits of vitamin A in the element3 protocol?
In element3 Rise, vitamin A at 0.7mg as retinyl acetate supports the immune and skin health pillars of the formula. It works alongside Vitamin C, Vitamin D3 and the prebiotic-postbiotic pair (Sunfiber® and CP2305®) to support normal immune function from several angles: barrier integrity, immune cell function and microbiome health. The retinyl acetate form is immediately bioavailable, unlike beta-carotene which requires conversion.

What is the recommended daily intake of vitamin A?
The recommended dietary intake for adult women is 0.7mg RAE (retinol activity equivalents) per day. element3 Rise provides exactly 0.7mg as retinyl acetate — meeting the RDI in a single serve. The upper intake level for preformed vitamin A is 3mg per day; exceeding this consistently can lead to vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A), and preformed vitamin A above the RDI is not recommended during pregnancy. The dose in element3 Rise is deliberately at the RDI rather than above it to remain safe for all adult women.

What food provides vitamin A?
Preformed vitamin A (retinol) is found in liver (the richest source by far), oily fish, eggs, full-fat dairy, and some fortified foods. Provitamin A carotenoids — which the body converts to retinol — are found in orange and yellow vegetables and fruits (sweet potato, carrots, butternut squash, mango) and dark leafy greens (spinach, kale). Conversion efficiency of plant-based carotenoids to active vitamin A varies considerably between individuals, which is why the preformed retinyl acetate form in element3 Rise provides reliable, consistent dosing.

Are there any vitamin A side effects?
At the 0.7mg RDI dose in element3 Rise, vitamin A is safe for all adult women. Vitamin A toxicity only occurs with chronic intake of preformed vitamin A well above the 3mg upper limit — primarily from very high-dose supplements or excessive liver consumption. Symptoms of toxicity include headache, nausea, dry skin, and in severe cases liver damage. Crucially, the preformed vitamin A in element3 Rise is at the RDI rather than an excess, making toxicity a non-concern at this dose. Women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should not exceed the RDI for preformed vitamin A.

What are vitamin A deficiency symptoms?
Vitamin A deficiency symptoms include dry, rough, or bumpy skin (follicular hyperkeratosis), poor night vision or difficulty adjusting to low light, frequent infections particularly of the respiratory tract, slow wound healing, and dry eyes. In severe deficiency, which is rare in developed countries, complete night blindness can develop. Subclinical deficiency is more common and may present as persistent skin issues, immune vulnerability, and reduced mucosal barrier integrity.

What form of vitamin A is in the element³ blend?
element3 Rise uses retinyl acetate — a preformed vitamin A compound that is immediately bioavailable without requiring conversion. Unlike provitamin A carotenoids (such as beta-carotene), which must be converted to retinol in the gut and whose conversion efficiency varies widely between individuals based on genetics and gut health, retinyl acetate provides a consistent, reliable 0.7mg RAE per serve. This ensures every woman who takes element3 Rise receives the full intended dose regardless of individual metabolic variation.

What does vitamin A do for the body?
Vitamin A regulates cell turnover, supports immune cell development (particularly T-cells and mucosal antibodies), maintains vision health, and keeps epithelial barriers in the skin, gut, and respiratory tract functioning properly. It is essential for tissue repair and renewal.

What are the benefits of vitamin A for skin health?
Vitamin A (retinol) drives the cell differentiation process that replaces old skin cells with new ones. Adequate vitamin A supports skin resilience, wound healing and an even complexion.

How much vitamin A do women need per day?
The recommended dietary intake for adult women is 0.7mg (700mcg RAE) per day. element3 Rise provides the full RDI as preformed retinyl acetate. The upper intake level for preformed vitamin A is 3mg/day.

Retinyl acetate vs beta-carotene — what is the difference?
Retinyl acetate is preformed vitamin A that the body can use immediately. Beta-carotene is a plant-based precursor that must be converted to retinol by the body — a process that is genetically variable and inefficient in up to 45% of people. Preformed vitamin A provides consistent bioavailability.

Can you take too much vitamin A?
Yes. Preformed vitamin A (retinol) is fat-soluble and can accumulate in the body. The upper intake level is 3mg/day for adults. element3 Rise provides 0.7mg, well within the safe range. Women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should discuss vitamin A intake with their healthcare provider.

Does vitamin A support the immune system?
Vitamin A is essential for the development of immune cells, the production of mucosal antibodies, and the maintenance of epithelial barriers that form the body’s first line of defence. Research indicates that adequate vitamin A intake supports both innate and adaptive immune responses.

[ 05 ] The Research

2 studies

The Research

Study Key finding
Role of vitamin A in the immune systemHuang, Z., Liu, Y., Qi, G., Brand, D., & Zheng, S. G. (2018). Role of vitamin A in the immune system. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 7(9), 258.
Review of vitamin A’s role in immune regulation, demonstrating its essential function in T-cell differentiation, IgA production, and barrier immunity.
 Read →
Vitamin A, infection, and immune functionStephensen, C. B. (2001). Vitamin A, infection, and immune function. Annual Review of Nutrition, 21, 167–192.
Comprehensive review establishing that vitamin A deficiency impairs both innate and adaptive immune responses, increasing susceptibility to infection.
 Read →

[ 06 ] In the Protocol

Where Vitamin A (as Retinol Acetate) sits in the element3 Protocol

In element3 Rise (AM Formula), vitamin A at 0.7mg as retinyl acetate provides the full RDI in a preformed, immediately usable form. It works alongside Vitamin C, Vitamin D3 and Selenium to support normal immune function, and alongside Sunfiber® in supporting the gut barrier. Taken in the morning, it supports the everyday renewal of skin and mucosal tissue.

You can learn more about the full element3 ingredient philosophy at element3.co.nz.