CompoAtlas

Vitamin A in food supplements

3,627 supplements declared in France contain a form of this nutrient

Vitamin A: in France, a food supplement may not provide more than 800 µg a day (Order of 9 May 2006, not revised since November 2006, Annex III); for adults, EFSA's upper safe limit is 3,000 µg RE a day. The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Written Question No 2686, ministry answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025.

What we know about this ingredient

Associated research

ClinicalTrials.gov · A trial is not proof: it tests a hypothesis.

2026-11-01

In plain words

À quoi il sert, selon les fabricants

Objectifs les plus souvent annoncés pour les compléments qui en contiennent (vitamine A) : immunité (756 produits), peau (513 produits), cheveux et ongles (468 produits), antioxydant (332 produits), œil / vision (282 produits).

Ce sont les objectifs déclarés par les fabricants à l'administration, pas des effets démontrés. Sur l'emballage, seules les allégations de santé autorisées par l'Union peuvent être écrites.

Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Jusqu'où c'est sûr

Pour un adulte, l'EFSAEuropean Food Safety Authority. fixe la limite supérieure de sécurité à 3000 µg ER/j : c'est l'apport quotidien qui, pris sur le long terme, ne devrait pas provoquer d'effet indésirable. Au-delà, le risque augmente. Un complément n'est qu'une partie de l'apport.

Précision de l'EFSA : Vitamine A préformée (rétinol et esters de rétinyle).

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

La règle en France

En France, la dose journalière recommandée d'un complément ne doit pas apporter plus de 800 µg (arrêté du 9 mai 2006, non révisé depuis novembre 2006). Compl'Alim ne publie pas la dose des produits déclarés : comparez celle de l'étiquette à ce plafond et à la limite de sécurité de l'EFSA.

French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA safety references

Le repère de l'EFSA porte sur l'apport total d'une journée, alimentation et compléments.

EFSA daily references
PopulationTypeValue
4-6 monthsUpper limit600 µg ER/j
7-11 monthsUpper limit600 µg ER/j
1-3 yearsUpper limit800 µg ER/j
4-6 yearsUpper limit1,100 µg ER/j
7-10 yearsUpper limit1,500 µg ER/j
11-14 yearsUpper limit2,000 µg ER/j
15-17 yearsUpper limit2,600 µg ER/j
adultsUpper limit3,000 µg ER/j
pregnancyUpper limit3,000 µg ER/j
breastfeedingUpper limit3,000 µg ER/j

Preformed vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters)

EFSA NDA Panel, 2024c. EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Maximum dose in France

Maximum daily dose per supplement in France: 800 µg, according to the Order of 9 May 2006.

The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Where to find it in food

Selected everyday foods, ranked by decreasing content across all confidence levels. Each value is at least one tenth of the maximum among the foods examined. Content varies with the food and preparation.

Content per 100 g of edible portion
FoodContentUnitCiqual confidence code
Chicken liver, cooked3,980µgB (good)
Carrot, raw1,100µgB (good)
Unsalted butter, at least 80% fat927µgA (high)
Sweet potato, cooked873µgB (good)
Spinach, boiled557µgA (high)

The Ciqual code indicates confidence in each value: A high, B good, C moderate, D low (a less certain value).

ANSES, Ciqual table 2025, published on 19 November 2025. Licence Ouverte 2.0.

Authorised health claims

  • « Vitamin A contributes to normal iron metabolism »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin A as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin A as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin A as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal vision »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin A as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Vitamin A contributes to the normal function of the immune system »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin A as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Vitamin A has a role in the process of cell specialisation »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin A as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
8 refused or revoked claims: they cannot appear on packaging
  • « Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary to maintain energy and general vitality »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food is not sufficiently defined to be able to be assessed and the claim could not therefore be substantiated.
  • « Vitamin A aids healthy bone and teeth growth. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Vitamin A aids healthy bone and teeth growth. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Vitamin A protects against free-radical-induced muscle damage. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.

Official English text, as entered in the Union register. A claim may only be used under its conditions.

6 authorised claims, 8 refused or revoked. EU Register of nutrition and health claims, retrieved 21 October 2026.

Forms declared in supplements

Union list: vitamin and mineral forms that may be used in a food supplement (Directive 2002/46/EC, Annex II).

Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements, latest consolidated version (Annex II: forms of vitamins and minerals), retrieved 23 October 2026.

In cosmetics: RETINOL, RETINYL PALMITATE, RETINYL ACETATE.

Products containing it