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Beta-Carotene Vs Retinol

Beta-Carotene Vs Retinol



Disclaimer: This content has been produced purely for informational and educational purposes only and is never intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical guidelines including diagnosis, advice, and treatment.



While both beta-carotene and retinol are organic compounds and relate to vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining many different bodily functions, they are not the same and are different in their biological activities. One represents a precursor of vitamin A, while the other one is preformed vitamin A respectively. People often compare the uses and benefits of beta-carotene vs retinol as they both play many important roles in the body. But how do they work? Let’s figure it out together. 


In this article, we’ll be comparing beta-carotene vs retinol in a little bit of detail including both similarities as well as dissimilarities. But before we get into the difference between beta-carotene and retinol, we’ll need to learn the basics of these compounds a little bit more. So, let’s get started. 


Table of contents

  • What is beta-carotene? 
  • What is retinol? 
  • Beta-carotene vs retinol: similarities and dissimilarities
  • Beta-carotene vs retinol: importance and benefits 
  • Final words 

What is beta-carotene? 

Beta-carotene is an organic compound that belongs to the family of carotenoids. Carotenoids are red, orange, and yellow plant pigments that give various fruits and vegetables their vibrant natural colors including carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkins, tomatoes, and butternut squash. 


There are more than 600 carotenoids out there but out of these huge numbers, only three - alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin can act as provitamin A and get converted to vitamin A or retinol when entered into the human body. 


Most of the dietary vitamin A consumed by humans seems to come from these three types of carotenoids, while the vast majority of it seems to come from beta-carotene. Other nutritionally valuable carotenoids such as zeaxanthin, lutein, and lycopene have been found to have potent antioxidant properties that can help human health in many ways but cannot get converted into retinol or vitamin A. 


What is retinol?

Retinol is a substance that belongs to the family of retinoids, also known as preformed vitamin A. In fact, vitamin A refers to a group of ingredients called retinoids. There are three retinoids - retinoic acid, retinal, and retinol, all of which are in a form that is readily usable in the body. This is the reason why these three are known as preformed vitamin A.


But out of these three forms, retinol is the most usable for the human body and it can be converted to other preformed forms of vitamin A such as retinoic acid and retinal as well in the human body. 


Beta-carotene vs retinol: similarities and dissimilarities  

Similarities between beta-carotene and retinol 


Forms - beta-carotene and retinol are two different forms of vitamin A 


Solubility - both beta-carotene and retinol are fat-soluble compounds 


Nutritional value - both beta-carotene and retinol are essential micronutrients and must be consumed through foods 


Dissimilarities between beta-carotene and retinol 


Family - beta-carotene falls under the carotenoids family, while retinol falls under the retinoids family. 


Types and forms - beta-carotene acts as a precursor of vitamin A and is considered a provitamin A, while retinol is in a more active form of vitamin A called preformed vitamin A which the body can readily use. 


Sources - beta-carotene is a red-orange pigment primarily found in plant food sources such as colorful fruits and vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, and mangoes, while retinol is primarily available in animal food sources, especially in those that contain fats such as meat, egg yolk, oily fish, and cheese. 


Bio-efficacy - studies suggest that the bio-efficacy of beta-carotene is usually much poor than retinol. Retinol has been shown to be 12 times stronger in comparison to beta-carotene.  But this problem could be solved when beta-carotene is taken regularly in smaller doses.


Storage - beta-carotene is broken down and gets converted to retinol in the digestive tract and hence, does not get stored in the body, while retinol gets stored in fatty tissues and the liver.    


Metabolism - beta-carotene usually does not require any elements to get converted into retinol, but retinol needs zinc to assist the process of being released from the liver.  


Anti-oxidant properties - beta-carotene is one of the most powerful antioxidants available in plant foods. It has noticeable antioxidant activities that can help neutralize free radicals and protect cells and tissues from oxidative damage. Free radicals are harmful unpaired oxygen-containing molecules that are highly unstable, making them tend to cause large chain reactions and cause damage to cells and tissues. Retinol, on the other hand, doesn’t show any noticeable antioxidant actions. 


Amounts required - the requirement of beta-carotene is much higher to get converted into an active form of vitamin A that the body can use. Whereas retinol is a more active form of vitamin A than beta-carotene, and thereby, only a limited amount of it could be enough for related bodily functions. 


Safety - beta-carotene doesn’t get stored in the body and thereby, is impossible to get overdosed when consumed. There’s no need to optimize the intake level of beta-carotene with caution. On the other hand, retinol gets stored in the body, and overconsumption might result in an overdose and cause unpleasant adverse effects. Therefore, beta-carotene is much safer for intake as dietary supplementation. 


Beta-carotene vs retinol: importance and benefits

Beta-carotene is a provitamin A and retinol is a preformed vitamin A. As vitamin A is essential for many bodily functions, both have health benefits. Both are equally important for growth and development. They’re also crucial for a stronger immune response and better vision. Without vitamin A, the human retina cannot function properly.  


Final words 

When weighing up beta-carotene vs retinol, both beta-carotene and retinol are different forms of vitamin A and they both have health benefits. But when it comes to vitamin A supplementation, beta-carotene represents a safer option because it doesn’t get stored in the body and there’s usually no risk of overdoses. However, it’s always best to consult with a professional nutritionist or naturopath before taking beta-carotene or retinol supplements to determine whether they are right for your specific health condition.



Here you can see Vorst’s pure and natural high-quality Beta-Carotene 1.5 Mg Vitamin A Capsules 


Here you can see Vorst’s specially formulated Eye Care Complex Capsules that contain beta-carotene along with other eye health beneficial compounds. 




Important resources: 


  1. https://www.sharecare.com/health/vitamin-a/vitamin_a_beta_carotene
  2. https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-vitamin-a-and-vs-beta-carotene/
  3. https://pediaa.com/difference-between-vitamin-a-and-beta-carotene/
  4. https://www.publichealthnotes.com/14-differences-between-retinol-and-%CE%B2-carotene/#:~:text=Strength%2Fpotent-,Retinol%20is%20considered%20as%20the%20most%20potent%20and%20strong%20type,weakest%20form%20of%20Vitamin%20A.&text=Retinol%20is%20itself%20an%20essential,itself%20not%20an%20essential%20nutrient.
  5. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/252758#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
  6. https://www.fondation-louisbonduelle.org/en/nutrient/beta-carotene-or-provitamin-a/
  7. https://www.neuroneeds.com/energyneeds-ingredients/vitamin-a-retinyl-palmitate-and-beta-carotene/