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Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE)
Unit expressing vitamin A activity in food, defined such that 1 μg RAE = 1 μg retinol = 12 μg dietary β-carotene = 24 μg of other provitamin A carotenoids.
Also: RAE, Retinol equivalents
RAE replaced the older retinol equivalents (RE) framework after evidence that carotenoid bioconversion is less efficient than previously assumed (~12:1 rather than 6:1 for β-carotene). RAE is the basis for vitamin A DRIs (RDA 900 μg RAE/d adult men, 700 μg/d women). Supplement labels still often use International Units (IU): 1 IU = 0.3 μg RAE for retinol, 0.05 μg RAE for β-carotene from supplements.
How one textbook covers it
Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 12th ed. — Ch 17: Vitamin A
RAE replaced the older retinol equivalents (RE) framework after evidence that carotenoid bioconversion is less efficient than previously assumed (~12:1 rather than 6:1 for β-carotene). RAE is the basis for vitamin A DRIs (RDA 900 μg RAE/d adult men, 700 μg/d women). Supplement labels still often use International Units (IU): 1 IU = 0.3 μg RAE for retinol, 0.05 μg RAE for β-carotene from supplements.
Related terms
Carotenoids, Retinol, Vitamin A