What compounds are included in the vitamin A family?

• A. Vitamin A derivatives and carotenoids
• B. Retinoid compounds and tocopherols
• C. Retinoid compounds and carotenoids
• D. Carotenoids only

Answer: (C)

Vitamin A activity comes from two related groups: retinoids and carotenoids. Retinoids are the active forms used in the body—retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid—found in animal-derived foods and supporting vision and gene regulation. Carotenoids are plant pigments, and some (notably beta-carotene) are provitamin A, meaning they can be converted to retinal to provide vitamin A activity. Together, these two categories make up the vitamin A family. Tocopherols belong to vitamin E, not vitamin A, so they aren’t included.