Daily vitamin a intake refers to the amount your body needs each day, measured in micrograms of retinol activity equivalents (RAE). This page explains daily vitamin a intake and how the value is set, and how you can think about it in a practical planning context. The focus is on understanding the figure for daily vitamin a intake rather than on specific foods or medical claims. Demographic differences matter when setting your target. For adults, a common reference value is 900 mcg RAE per day for men and 700 mcg RAE per day for women. Pregnancy and lactation have higher targets—770 mcg RAE daily during pregnancy and about 1300 mcg RAE during lactation. These figures come from dietary reference guidelines and serve as targets to guide planning. Understanding units and conversions helps you work with different information sources. Vitamin A activity is expressed as RAE to account for different forms. 1 mcg RAE roughly corresponds to 3.3 IU of retinol, and conversely 1 mcg RAE equals about 0.3 mcg of retinol. Being comfortable with these conversions lets you compare values and track progress toward daily vitamin a intake. Practical steps to reach the daily vitamin a intake target include using official reference values as your starting point, and employing reputable calculators or reference tables to translate intake into mcg RAE. If you use supplements, follow label instructions and consult a professional if you have questions about dosing or interactions. Regular review of your planning helps ensure that your target remains appropriate for your life stage and circumstances.
