Vitamins: Characteristics
Measuring vitamins in units, and keeping them fresh
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Vitamins are sold on potency, stability and form. Vitamin A is measured in international units (IU) per gram; feed products such as 'vitamin A 1000' mean 1 million IU per gram. Fat-soluble vitamins oxidise, so beadlet coating and storage matter. Pharma grades need GMP and pharmacopoeia compliance.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potency | vitamin A 1000 (1,000,000 IU/g); VE 50% feed powder; D3 500 (500,000 IU/g) (indicative) | Formulation and price per IU | indicative |
| Stability | beadlet or spray-dried forms with antioxidants | Survives pelleting and storage | indicative |
| Grade | feed, food, pharma (USP/EP/IP), cosmetic | Cosmetic VE sells at RMB 300-500/kg against RMB 80-100/kg for feed | Faxian Gongchang 2026 |
Commercial grades
- Feed grades (VA 1000, VE 50%, D3 500)
- Food and supplement grades
- Pharma grades (USP, EP, IP)
- Cosmetic grades (VE, niacinamide, panthenol)
- Natural vitamin E (tocopherols)