Do I need a prescription for Vitamin A 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials?

Vitamin A 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials is classified as a Valid as a prescribable product in the UK. However, always consult a pharmacist or doctor before use. (Source: NHS dm+d)

What are the brand names for Vitamin A 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials?

Vitamin A 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials is the generic name. It is available under brand names including: Aquasol A Parenteral 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials, Vitamin A 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials. (Source: NHS dm+d — Actual Medicinal Products)

Vitamin A 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials

Prescription only

Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber

Injection

000units/2ml

Parenteral

Oral liquids

Active ingredients:

Retinol

BNF classificationBrowse formulary

Where this medicine sits in the British National Formulary — the UK's standard prescribing reference

BNF 09.06.01.01

ATC classificationBrowse ATC index

International classification by the WHO, grouping medicines by the organ system they act on

ATC A11CA01

Chemical classBrowse classes

Classification based on the molecule's chemical structure and properties

Check interactions for Retinol

No active safety alerts

Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring

Report a side effect

Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA

Official medicine documents

Yellow Card

Report side effects (MHRA)

Drug safety updates

MHRA alerts for Retinol

Source: MHRA Products DatabaseOGL 3.0

Updated 3 months ago(16 Jan 2026)

Safety monitoring data

Yellow Card reports

MHRA

The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.

View Drug Analysis Profile

Suspected adverse reactions reported for Retinol

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Interactive Drug Analysis Profiles for all medicines

Report a side effect

Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA

Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

EudraVigilance

EMA

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.

View EudraVigilance report

Suspected adverse reactions reported for Retinol

About EudraVigilance

Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring

EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.

2 branded products available

2 productsShow details

2 products

Possibly available on the UK marketRestricted supplyDiscontinuedAvailability per NHS dm+d

MHRA licensed products

View all licensed products for Retinol on the MHRA register

Aquasol A Parenteral 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials

Imported (United States)

None

Imported

Vitamin A 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials

Special Order

None

Special

Source: NHS dm+dOGL 3.0

Updated about 1 month ago(1 Mar 2026)

Daily doseShow details

WHO defined daily dose (DDD)

50000 unit

Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.

Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via NHS dm+d BNF mapping files. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Therapeutically similar medicines

10 similarShow details

Generic Paravit-Mod liquid

Other

Same therapeutic group

Generic Paravit-Mod capsules

Capsule

Same therapeutic group

Retinol 10,000units/ml oral drops

Other

000units

Same therapeutic group

Generic Paravit-CF capsules

Capsule

Same therapeutic group

Generic Paravit-CF liquid sugar free

Other

Same therapeutic group

Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.

NHS prescribing volume and spending trends

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Clinical guidelines and formulary information

British National Formulary

Retinol

BNF

Drug monograph — bnf.nice.org.uk

Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

NICE clinical guidance(1)

Maternal and child nutrition: nutrition and weight management in pregnancy, and nutrition in children up to 5 years (NG247)

NG247

NICE guideline

Updated Jan 2025

Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Pharmacy stock checkers

Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.

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Supply & product information

Official product databases and supply status monitoring

Shortages info

NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS)

emc product search

Discontinuations & alternatives for Retinol

Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.

Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems

Show details

These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.

NHS UK identifiers

SNOMED CT

34194311000001106

dm+d ID

34194311000001106

VTM (Virtual Therapeutic Moiety)

777428004

VMP (Virtual Medicinal Product)

34194311000001106

BNF code

09060101

International identifiers

ATC code — Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (WHO)

A11CA01

Browse tools

dm+d Browser

NHSBSA medicines dictionary lookup

SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).

Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov

Show details

Searching UK clinical trials...

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.

Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank

go.drugbank.com

Key facts

Drug status

Approved

Major interactions

None known

Half-life

1.9 hours

Mechanism

Vision:Vitamin A (all-trans retinol) is converted in the retina to the 11-cis-isomer of retinaldehyde or 11-cis-retinal.

Food interactions

None known

Human targets

16 targets

Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0

Pharmacokinetics at a glance

Absorption

Readily absorbed from the normal gastrointestinal tract

Half-life

1.9 hours

1.9 hours

Protein binding

Less than 5% of circulating vitamin A is bound to lipoproteins in blood in normal condition, but may be up to 65% when hepatic stores are saturated because of excessive intake.…

Metabolism

Hepatic. Retinol is conjugated with glucuronic acid; the B-glucuronide undergoes enterohepatic circulation and oxidation to retinol and retinoic acid.…

Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0

Status:

Approved

Investigational

Nutraceutical

Vet approved

Small molecule

About this compound

Retinol and derivatives of retinol that play an essential role in metabolic functioning of the retina, the growth of and differentiation of epithelial tissue, the growth of bone, reproduction, and the immune response. Dietary vitamin A is derived from a variety of carotenoids found in plants. It is enriched in the liver, egg yolks, and the fat component of dairy products.

Properties:

solid

Avg. mass: 286.45 Da

DrugBank indication

For the treatment of vitamin A deficiency.

Also known as(155)

(2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraen-1-ol

all-trans-retinol

all-trans-retinyl alcohol

all-trans-vitamin A alcohol

Retinol

Retinolum

Vitamin A Alcohol

Vitamin A1

Dosage forms(131)

Ointment (Topical)

Capsule (Oral) — 10000 unit

Emulsion (Oral) — 10000 unit / .04 mL

Capsule (Oral) — 50000 UI

Injection, solution (Intramuscular; Oral)

Injection, solution (Intramuscular) — 15 mg/1mL

Capsule (Oral) — 25000 unit / cap

Capsule (Oral) — 50000 unit / cap

Molecular properties(19)

Drug interactions(60)

Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Orlistat

Moderate

DB01083

Orlistat can cause a decrease in the absorption of Vitamin A resulting in a reduced serum concentration and potentially a decrease in efficacy.

Check this interaction

Bexarotene

Unknown severity

DB00307

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Bexarotene.

Check this interaction

Diethylstilbestrol

Moderate

DB00255

The therapeutic efficacy of Diethylstilbestrol can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Estradiol

Moderate

DB00783

The therapeutic efficacy of Estradiol can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Ethinylestradiol

Moderate

DB00977

The therapeutic efficacy of Ethinylestradiol can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Mestranol

Moderate

DB01357

The therapeutic efficacy of Mestranol can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Estradiol cypionate

Moderate

DB13954

The therapeutic efficacy of Estradiol cypionate can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Estradiol valerate

Moderate

DB13956

The therapeutic efficacy of Estradiol valerate can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Estetrol

Moderate

DB12235

The therapeutic efficacy of Estetrol can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Desogestrel

Moderate

DB00304

The therapeutic efficacy of Desogestrel can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Megestrol acetate

Moderate

DB00351

The therapeutic efficacy of Megestrol acetate can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Levonorgestrel

Moderate

DB00367

The therapeutic efficacy of Levonorgestrel can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Medroxyprogesterone acetate

Moderate

DB00603

The therapeutic efficacy of Medroxyprogesterone acetate can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Norethisterone

Moderate

DB00717

The therapeutic efficacy of Norethisterone can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Ethynodiol diacetate

Moderate

DB00823

The therapeutic efficacy of Ethynodiol diacetate can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Norgestimate

Moderate

DB00957

The therapeutic efficacy of Norgestimate can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Drospirenone

Moderate

DB01395

The therapeutic efficacy of Drospirenone can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Cyproterone acetate

Moderate

DB04839

The therapeutic efficacy of Cyproterone acetate can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Gestodene

Moderate

DB06730

The therapeutic efficacy of Gestodene can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Hydroxyprogesterone caproate

Moderate

DB06789

The therapeutic efficacy of Hydroxyprogesterone caproate can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Dienogest

Moderate

DB09123

The therapeutic efficacy of Dienogest can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Norethynodrel

Moderate

DB09371

The therapeutic efficacy of Norethynodrel can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Norgestrel

Moderate

DB09389

The therapeutic efficacy of Norgestrel can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Gestrinone

Moderate

DB11619

The therapeutic efficacy of Gestrinone can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Lynestrenol

Moderate

DB12474

The therapeutic efficacy of Lynestrenol can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Chlormadinone

Moderate

DB13528

The therapeutic efficacy of Chlormadinone can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Norgestrienone

Moderate

DB13563

The therapeutic efficacy of Norgestrienone can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Quingestanol

Moderate

DB13685

The therapeutic efficacy of Quingestanol can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Demegestone

Moderate

DB13857

The therapeutic efficacy of Demegestone can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Nomegestrol acetate

Moderate

DB13981

The therapeutic efficacy of Nomegestrol acetate can be decreased when used in combination with Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Acitretin

Unknown severity

DB00459

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Acitretin.

Check this interaction

Alitretinoin

Unknown severity

DB00523

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Alitretinoin.

Check this interaction

Tretinoin

Unknown severity

DB00755

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Tretinoin.

Check this interaction

Tazarotene

Unknown severity

DB00799

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Tazarotene.

Check this interaction

Etretinate

Unknown severity

DB00926

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Etretinate.

Check this interaction

Isotretinoin

Unknown severity

DB00982

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Isotretinoin.

Check this interaction

4-Oxoretinol

Unknown severity

DB02699

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with 4-Oxoretinol.

Check this interaction

Fenretinide

Unknown severity

DB05076

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Fenretinide.

Check this interaction

Ro 12-7310

Unknown severity

DB08455

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Ro 12-7310.

Check this interaction

Zuretinol acetate

Unknown severity

DB12112

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Zuretinol acetate.

Check this interaction

Motretinide

Unknown severity

DB13368

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Motretinide.

Check this interaction

Valproic acid

Moderate

DB00313

Valproic acid may increase the Pseudotumor Cerebri activities of Vitamin A.

Check this interaction

Doxycycline

Unknown severity

DB00254

The risk or severity of pseudotumor cerebri can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Doxycycline.

Check this interaction

Clomocycline

Unknown severity

DB00453

The risk or severity of pseudotumor cerebri can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Clomocycline.

Check this interaction

Tigecycline

Unknown severity

DB00560

The risk or severity of pseudotumor cerebri can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Tigecycline.

Check this interaction

Oxytetracycline

Unknown severity

DB00595

The risk or severity of pseudotumor cerebri can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Oxytetracycline.

Check this interaction

Demeclocycline

Unknown severity

DB00618

The risk or severity of pseudotumor cerebri can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Demeclocycline.

Check this interaction

Tetracycline

Unknown severity

DB00759

The risk or severity of pseudotumor cerebri can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Tetracycline.

Check this interaction

Metacycline

Unknown severity

DB00931

The risk or severity of pseudotumor cerebri can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Metacycline.

Check this interaction

Minocycline

Unknown severity

DB01017

The risk or severity of pseudotumor cerebri can be increased when Vitamin A is combined with Minocycline.

Check this interaction

Showing 50 of 60 interactions

Toxicity & overdose

Acute toxicity to vitamin A can occur when adults or children ingest >100x or >20x the RDA, respectively, over a period of hours or a few days.
[A37787]
The RDA for vitamin A differs depending on age and sex and can range from 300 - 900 μg retinol activity equivalents (RAE) per day.
[L15386]
Symptoms of acute systemic toxicity generally include mucocutaneous involvement (e.g. xerosis, cheilitis, skin peeling) and may involve mental status changes.
[A216971]
Children are typically more susceptible to acute vitamin A toxicity - daily intakes of as little as 1500 IU/kg have been observed to result in toxicity.
[A37787]

Chronic vitamin A toxicity can develop following the long-term ingestion of high vitamin A doses. While there is a wide variation in the lowest toxic vitamin A dose, the ingestion of >25 000 IU daily for 6 years or 100,000 IU daily for 6 months is considered to be toxic.
[A37787]
Chronic vitamin A toxicity can affect many organ systems and can lead to the development of osteoporosis and CNS effects (e.g. headaches).
[A216971]

How it works

Mechanism of action

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 in the transduction of light into the neural signals necessary for vision. 11-cis-retinal, while attached to opsin in rhodopsin is isomerized to all-trans-retinal by light. This is the event that triggers the nerve impulse to the brain which allows 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 dark, 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. Epithelial differentiation: The role of Vitamin A in epithelial differentiation, as well 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.

Pharmacodynamics

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 the proper functioning of the immune system.

Pharmacokinetics

How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination

Absorption

Readily absorbed from the normal gastrointestinal tract

Half-life

1.9 hours

Protein binding

Less than 5% of circulating vitamin A is bound to lipoproteins in blood in normal condition, but may be up to 65% when hepatic stores are saturated because of excessive intake. When released from liver, vitamin A is bound to retinol-binding protein (RBP). Most vitamin A circulates in the form of retinol bound to RBP.

Metabolism

Hepatic. Retinol is conjugated with glucuronic acid; the B-glucuronide undergoes enterohepatic circulation and oxidation to retinol and retinoic acid. Retinoic acid undergoes decarboxylation and conjugation with glucuronic acid.

Drug targets(16)

Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body

Retinoic acid receptor RXR-gamma

BE0000707

RXRG

binder

Specific functionDNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific

Cellular location

Nucleus

General function & pharmacology

Receptor for retinoic acid. Retinoic acid receptors bind as heterodimers to their target response elements in response to their ligands, all-trans or 9-cis retinoic acid, and regulate gene expression in various biological processes. The RAR/RXR heterodimers bind to the retinoic acid response elements (RARE) composed of tandem 5'-AGGTCA-3' sites known as DR1-DR5.

The high affinity ligand for RXRs is 9-cis retinoic acid (By similarity)

Apolipoprotein D

BE0005056

APOD

ligand

Specific functioncholesterol binding

Cellular location

Secreted

General function & pharmacology

APOD occurs in the macromolecular complex with lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase. It is probably involved in the transport and binding of bilin. Appears to be able to transport a variety of ligands in a number of different contexts

Prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase

BE0009878

PTGDS

ligand

Specific functionfatty acid binding

Cellular location

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

General function & pharmacology

Catalyzes the conversion of PGH2 to PGD2, a prostaglandin involved in smooth muscle contraction/relaxation and a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation .
PMID:20667974
Involved in a variety of CNS functions, such as sedation, NREM sleep and PGE2-induced allodynia, and may have an anti-apoptotic role in oligodendrocytes. Binds small non-substrate lipophilic molecules, including biliverdin, bilirubin, retinal, retinoic acid and thyroid hormone, and may act as a scavenger for harmful hydrophobic molecules and as a secretory retinoid and thyroid hormone transporter. Possibly involved in development and maintenance of the blood-brain, blood-retina, blood-aqueous humor and blood-testis barrier.

It is likely to play important roles in both maturation and maintenance of the central nervous system and male reproductive system .
PMID:20667974 PMID:9475419
Involved in PLA2G3-dependent maturation of mast cells. PLA2G3 is secreted by immature mast cells and acts on nearby fibroblasts upstream to PTDGS to synthesize PGD2, which in turn promotes mast cell maturation and degranulation via PTGDR (By similarity)

Retinol dehydrogenase 12

BE0000726

RDH12

substrate

Specific function11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase activity

Cellular location

Endoplasmic reticulum membrane

General function & pharmacology

Retinoids dehydrogenase/reductase with a clear preference for NADP. Displays high activity towards 9-cis, 11-cis and all-trans-retinal. Shows very weak activity towards 13-cis-retinol .
PMID:12226107 PMID:15865448
Also exhibits activity, albeit with lower affinity than for retinaldehydes, towards lipid peroxidation products (C9 aldehydes) such as 4-hydroxynonenal and trans-2-nonenal .
PMID:15865448 PMID:19686838
May play an important function in photoreceptor cells to detoxify 4-hydroxynonenal and potentially other toxic aldehyde products resulting from lipid peroxidation .
PMID:19686838
Has no dehydrogenase activity towards steroids PMID:12226107 PMID:15865448

Retinol dehydrogenase 5

BE0000570

RDH5

substrate

Specific function11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase

Cellular location

Endoplasmic reticulum membrane

General function & pharmacology

Catalyzes the oxidation of cis-isomers of retinol, including 11-cis-, 9-cis-, and 13-cis-retinol in an NAD-dependent manner .
PMID:10588954 PMID:11675386 PMID:9115228 PMID:9931293

Has no activity towards all-trans retinal (By similarity). Plays a significant role in 11-cis retinol oxidation in the retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE). Also recognizes steroids (androsterone, androstanediol) as its substrates PMID:29541409 PMID:9931293

Metabolizing enzymes(1)

Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions

Enzyme activity key

substrate

inhibitor

inducer

CYP26A1Cytochrome P450 26A1

substrate

inducer

Transporters(1)

Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes

Receptor for retinol uptake STRA6

BE0009879

STRA6

substrate

Specific functionretinal binding

Cellular location

Cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

Functions as a retinol transporter. Accepts all-trans retinol from the extracellular retinol-binding protein RBP4, facilitates retinol transport across the cell membrane, and then transfers retinol to the cytoplasmic retinol-binding protein RBP1 .
PMID:18316031 PMID:22665496 PMID:9452451

Retinol uptake is enhanced by LRAT, an enzyme that converts retinol to all-trans retinyl esters, the storage forms of vitamin A .
PMID:18316031 PMID:22665496
Contributes to the activation of a signaling cascade that depends on retinol transport and LRAT-dependent generation of retinol metabolites that then trigger activation of JAK2 and its target STAT5, and ultimately increase the expression of SOCS3 and inhibit cellular responses to insulin .
PMID:21368206 PMID:22665496
Important for the homeostasis of vitamin A and its derivatives, such as retinoic acid .
PMID:18316031
STRA6-mediated transport is particularly important in the eye, and under conditions of dietary vitamin A deficiency (Probable). Does not transport retinoic acid PMID:18316031

Carriers(8)

Proteins that carry this drug through the body

Albumin

BE0000530

ALB

binder

Specific functionantioxidant activity

Cellular location

Secreted

General function & pharmacology

Binds water, Ca(2+), Na(+), K(+), fatty acids, hormones, bilirubin and drugs (Probable). Its main function is the regulation of the colloidal osmotic pressure of blood (Probable). Major zinc transporter in plasma, typically binds about 80% of all plasma zinc .
PMID:19021548
Major calcium and magnesium transporter in plasma, binds approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium in plasma (By similarity).

Potentially has more than two calcium-binding sites and might additionally bind calcium in a non-specific manner (By similarity). The shared binding site between zinc and calcium at residue Asp-273 suggests a crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood (By similarity). The rank order of affinity is zinc > calcium > magnesium (By similarity).

Binds to the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake of E.coli from ferric transferrin, and may thereby limit the utilization of iron and growth of enteric bacteria such as E.coli .
PMID:6234017
Does not prevent iron uptake by the bacterial siderophore aerobactin PMID:6234017

Retinaldehyde-binding protein 1

BE0000786

RLBP1

binder

Specific function11-cis retinal binding

Cellular location

Cytoplasm

General function & pharmacology

Soluble retinoid carrier essential the proper function of both rod and cone photoreceptors. Participates in the regeneration of active 11-cis-retinol and 11-cis-retinaldehyde, from the inactive 11-trans products of the rhodopsin photocycle and in the de novo synthesis of these retinoids from 11-trans metabolic precursors. The cycling of retinoids between photoreceptor and adjacent pigment epithelium cells is known as the 'visual cycle'

Retinol-binding protein 3

BE0000255

RBP3

binder

Specific functionretinal binding

Cellular location

Secreted, extracellular space, extracellular matrix, interphotoreceptor matrix

General function & pharmacology

IRBP shuttles 11-cis and all trans retinoids between the retinol isomerase in the pigment epithelium and the visual pigments in the photoreceptor cells of the retina

Retinol-binding protein 1

BE0000301

RBP1

binder

Specific functionall-trans-retinol binding

Cellular location

Cytoplasm

General function & pharmacology

Cytoplasmic retinol-binding protein .
PMID:22665496 PMID:26900151 PMID:28057518

Accepts retinol from the transport protein STRA6, and thereby contributes to retinol uptake, storage and retinoid homeostasis PMID:15632377 PMID:22665496

Retinol-binding protein 5

BE0000682

RBP5

binder

Specific functionfatty acid binding

Cellular location

Cytoplasm

General function & pharmacology

Intracellular transport of retinol

Retinoid-binding protein 7

BE0000532

RBP7

binder

Specific functionfatty acid binding

Cellular location

Cytoplasm

General function & pharmacology

Intracellular transport of retinol

Retinol-binding protein 4

BE0000314

RBP4

binder

Specific functionmolecular carrier activity

Cellular location

Secreted

General function & pharmacology

Retinol-binding protein that mediates retinol transport in blood plasma .
PMID:5541771
Delivers retinol from the liver stores to the peripheral tissues (Probable). Transfers the bound all-trans retinol to STRA6, that then facilitates retinol transport across the cell membrane PMID:22665496

Retinol-binding protein 2

BE0000505

RBP2

binder

Specific functionfatty acid binding

Cellular location

Cytoplasm

General function & pharmacology

Intracellular transport of retinol

Biological pathways(2)

Retinol Metabolism

metabolic

Involved compounds

4-Oxoretinol,Alitretinoin,Iron,Mesoheme,NADH,Tretinoin,Vitamin A,Zinc

Vitamin A Deficiency

disease

Involved compounds

4-Oxoretinol,Alitretinoin,Iron,Mesoheme,NADH,Tretinoin,Vitamin A,Zinc

Scientific references(3)

Roncone D.P.

Xerophthalmia secondary to alcohol-induced malnutrition.

Optometry - Journal of the American Optometric Association

200677(3):124-133. doi: 10.1016/j.optm.2006.01.005

PMID: 16513513 DOI: 10.1016/j.optm.2006.01.005

Penniston K.L., Tanumihardjo S.A.

The acute and chronic toxic effects of vitamin A.

American Journal Clinical Nutr

2006 Feb83(2):191-201. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/83.2.191

PMID: 16469975 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/83.2.191

Olson J.M., Ameer M.A., Goyal A.

Milk fever prevention update and vitamin D3 toxicity. The Bovine Practitioner. 1984;:127-129.

doi: 10

21423/bovine-vol1984no19p127-129

PMID: 30422511 DOI: 10.21423/bovine-vol1984no19p127-129

ATC classification(5 codes)

ATC S01XA02

ATC V04CB01

ATC D10AD02

ATC R01AX02

ATC A11CA01

Affected organisms(1)

Humans and other mammals

International brands(2)

Salt forms(2)

Vitamin A acetate(DBSALT001720)

Vitamin A palmitate(DBSALT000855)

Experimental properties(3)

External resources(3)

RxList PDRhealth Drugs.com

Protein Data Bank entries(33)

Commercial products(847)

Chemical identifiers

CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references

Show

Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Vitamin A

Matched from: Retinol

DB00162

CAS number

68-26-8

UNII (FDA)

G2SH0XKK91

InChI Key (molecular fingerprint)

FPIPGXGPPPQFEQ-OVSJKPMPSA-N

Synonym match

95% confidence

Additional database identifiers

Drugs Product Database (DPD)

704

Drugs Product Database (DPD)

5059

Drugs Product Database (DPD)

230

ChEBI

17336

PubChem Compound

445354

PubChem Substance

46508191

KEGG Compound

C17276

KEGG Drug

D00069

ChemSpider

393012

BindingDB

50092056

PharmGKB

PA451884

PDB

RTL

Therapeutic Targets Database

DNC001498

Wikipedia

Vitamin_A

ChEMBL

CHEMBL986

ZINC

ZINC000003831417

RxCUI

11246

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:10479

GenAtlas

RXRG

GeneCards

RXRG

GenBank Gene Database

U38480

GenBank Protein Database

1053069

IUPHAR

612

Guide to Pharmacology

612

UniProtKB

P48443

UniProt Accession

RXRG_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:612

GeneCards

APOD

UniProtKB

P05090

UniProt Accession

APOD_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:9592

GeneCards

PTGDS

Guide to Pharmacology

1380

UniProtKB

P41222

UniProt Accession

PTGDS_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:19977

GenAtlas

RDH12

GeneCards

RDH12

GenBank Gene Database

AK054835

GenBank Protein Database

16549449

UniProtKB

Q96NR8

UniProt Accession

RDH12_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:9940

GenAtlas

RDH5

GeneCards

RDH5

GenBank Gene Database

U43559

GenBank Protein Database

1616654

UniProtKB

Q92781

UniProt Accession

RDH5_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:19978

GenAtlas

RDH13

GeneCards

RDH13

GenBank Gene Database

AK075392

GenBank Protein Database

22761451

UniProtKB

Q8NBN7

UniProt Accession

RDH13_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:15472

GenAtlas

ALDH1A2

GeneCards

ALDH1A2

GenBank Gene Database

AB015226

GenBank Protein Database

3970842

UniProtKB

O94788

UniProt Accession

AL1A2_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:402

GenAtlas

ALDH1A1

GeneCards

ALDH1A1

GenBank Gene Database

M31994

GenBank Protein Database

178372

UniProtKB

P00352

UniProt Accession

AL1A1_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:6685

GenAtlas

LRAT

GeneCards

LRAT

GenBank Gene Database

AF071510

GenBank Protein Database

4240391

UniProtKB

O95237

UniProt Accession

LRAT_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:17693

GenAtlas

DHRS3

GeneCards

DHRS3

GenBank Gene Database

AF061741

GenBank Protein Database

3450828

UniProtKB

O75911

UniProt Accession

DHRS3_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:409

GenAtlas

ALDH1A3

GeneCards

ALDH1A3

GenBank Gene Database

U07919

GenBank Protein Database

544482

UniProtKB

P47895

UniProt Accession

AL1A3_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:25991

GenAtlas

RETSAT

GeneCards

RETSAT

GenBank Gene Database

AY358568

GenBank Protein Database

37182258

UniProtKB

Q6NUM9

UniProt Accession

RETST_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:17964

GenAtlas

RDH11

GeneCards

RDH11

GenBank Gene Database

AF167438

GenBank Protein Database

9622124

UniProtKB

Q8TC12

UniProt Accession

RDH11_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:16985

GenAtlas

DHRS4

GeneCards

DHRS4

GenBank Gene Database

AF044127

GenBank Protein Database

4105190

UniProtKB

Q9BTZ2

UniProt Accession

DHRS4_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:19979

GenAtlas

RDH14

GeneCards

RDH14

GenBank Gene Database

AF237952

GenBank Protein Database

10039619

UniProtKB

Q9HBH5

UniProt Accession

RDH14_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:14423

GenAtlas

RDH8

GeneCards

RDH8

GenBank Gene Database

AF229845

GenBank Protein Database

7527474

UniProtKB

Q9NYR8

UniProt Accession

RDH8_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:2603

GenAtlas

CYP26A1

GeneCards

CYP26A1

GenBank Gene Database

AF005418

Guide to Pharmacology

1366

UniProtKB

O43174

UniProt Accession

CP26A_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:399

GenAtlas

ALB

GeneCards

ALB

GenBank Gene Database

V00494

GenBank Protein Database

28590

UniProtKB

P02768

UniProt Accession

ALBU_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:10024

GenAtlas

RLBP1

GeneCards

RLBP1

GenBank Gene Database

J04213

GenBank Protein Database

190854

UniProtKB

P12271

UniProt Accession

RLBP1_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:9921

GenAtlas

RBP3

GeneCards

RBP3

GenBank Gene Database

M33875

GenBank Protein Database

186541

UniProtKB

P10745

UniProt Accession

RET3_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:9919

GenAtlas

RBP1

GeneCards

RBP1

GenBank Gene Database

M11433

GenBank Protein Database

190948

UniProtKB

P09455

UniProt Accession

RET1_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:15847

GenAtlas

RBP5

GeneCards

RBP5

GenBank Gene Database

AY007436

GenBank Protein Database

13447447

UniProtKB

P82980

UniProt Accession

RET5_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:30316

GenAtlas

RBP7

GeneCards

RBP7

GenBank Gene Database

AY145438

GenBank Protein Database

24559768

UniProtKB

Q96R05

UniProt Accession

RET7_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:9922

GenAtlas

RBP4

GeneCards

RBP4

GenBank Gene Database

X00129

GenBank Protein Database

35897

Guide to Pharmacology

2549

UniProtKB

P02753

UniProt Accession

RET4_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:9920

GenAtlas

RBP2

GeneCards

RBP2

GenBank Gene Database

U13831

GenBank Protein Database

535390

UniProtKB

P50120

UniProt Accession

RET2_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:30650

GeneCards

STRA6

UniProtKB

Q9BX79

UniProt Accession

STRA6_HUMAN

International reference pricing

10 formulations

Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.

From $0.02/tablet

To $149.39/tube

Vitamin a 10000 unit tablet

$0.02/tablet

Vitamin a cream

$0.03/g

Vitamin a palm 10000 unit tablet

$0.06/tablet

Gordon's vite a creme

$0.13/g

Vitamin a acetate crystals

$1.99/g

Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.

DrugBank citations

If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications:

Knox C., Wilson M., Klinger C.M., et al

DrugBank 6.

0: the DrugBank Knowledgebase for 2024

Nucleic Acids Res. 2024 Jan 552(D1):D1265-D1275

PMID: 37953279

Wishart D.S., Feunang Y.D., Guo A.C., et al

DrugBank 5.

0: a major update to the DrugBank database for 2018

Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Nov 846(D1):D1074-D1082

PMID: 29126136

Show earlier publications

Law V., Knox C., Djoumbou Y., et al

DrugBank 4.

0: shedding new light on drug metabolism

Nucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jan 142(1):D1091-7

PMID: 24203711

Knox C., Law V., Jewison T., et al

DrugBank 3.

0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugs

Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan39(Database issue):D1035-41

PMID: 21059682

Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et al

DrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets.

Nucleic Acids Research

2008 Jan36(Database issue):D901-6

PMID: 18048412

Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et al

DrugBank: a comprehensive resource for in silico drug discovery and exploration.

Nucleic Acids Research

2006 Jan 134(Database issue):D668-72

PMID: 16381955

Source: go.drugbank.comCC BY-NC 4.0

Updated 27 days ago(8 Mar 2026)

Back to medicines

Vitamin A 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials

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Vitamin A 100,000units/2ml solution for injection vials

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Yellow Card reports

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Pharmacokinetics at a glance

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Deep science28

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