1. A review of vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. VA is not a single compound, it includes A1 and A2, A1 is retinoid, which is mainly distributed in the liver, blood, and retina of the eyeball, A2 is 3-dehydroretinol, which is an important component of human visual cells.
As a food and feed additive, it is synthetic, in two forms, vitamin a palmitate and vitamin a acetate, the former is mostly used in food, and the latter is mainly used in feed.
2. Physiological functions of vitamin A
Vitamin A has a wide range of important physiological functions in the human body, summarized mainly in the areas of vision, regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, intercellular information exchange and immune response, and the abnormal physiological functions and pathological changes that can result from its deficiency.
2.1 Maintenance of vision
It promotes the formation of light-sensitive pigments in visual cells, adjusts the eye’s ability to adapt to external light intensity to reduce the occurrence of night blindness and vision loss, maintains normal visual response, and helps in the treatment of various eye diseases (such as ocular dryness and conjunctivitis, etc.).
2.2 Maintaining the integrity and soundness of epithelial structures
Retinol and retinoic acid regulate gene expression and attenuate the differentiation of epithelial cells towards squamous forms, thereby increasing the number of epithelial growth factor receptors.
2.3 Promote growth and development
Retinol is also equivalent to a steroid hormone, which can promote the synthesis of glycoproteins, promote the growth and development of the body, strengthen bones, and maintain the health of hair, teeth, and dental bed.
2.4 Strengthen immunity
Vitamin A helps to maintain the normal function of the immune system and strengthens the body’s resistance to infectious diseases, especially respiratory infections, and parasitic infections, and also helps in the treatment of emphysema and hyperthyroidism.
2.5 Eliminate free radicals
Vitamin a has some antioxidant effect, which can scavenge the harmful effects of free radicals.
3. Vitamin a manufacturers and market share
The manufacturers of vitamin A include Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd, BASF, DSM, Z Zhejiang Medicine Co., Ltd(ZMC), Bluestar Adisseo Co., Ltd, Xiamen Kingdomway Group.
3.1 Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd
Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd was founded in 1999 and listed in 2004 (stock code 002001). It specializes in the R&D, production, sales, and service of functional chemicals such as nutritional products, fragrances and polymer materials. They start production from the raw material citral and have the advantage of cost and scale, and are the fourth largest vitamin producer in the world.
3.2 BASF and DSM
BASF (Germany) and DSM (Netherlands) are old and famous producers and suppliers of vitamins.
3.3 Zhejiang Medicine Co., Ltd (ZMC)
ZMC is a large joint-stock integrated pharmaceutical enterprise established in May 1997. Zhejiang Medicine has formed a specialized and large-scale production of fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin-like, quinolone antibiotics, anti-drug-resistant antibiotics, and other series of products.
3.4 Bluestar Adisseo Co., Ltd
Adisseo is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of feed additives. With 10 research centers around the world and production sites in Europe, the USA, and China, the company designs, produces and promotes sustainable nutritional solutions for the animal feed sector. Adisseo joined BlueStar Group, a subsidiary of China National Chemical Corporation in 2006 and was successfully listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2015.
3.5 Xiamen Kingdomway Group
Xiamen Kingdomway Group is established in November 1997. It is a key high-tech enterprise under the National Torch Plan and an innovative pilot enterprise. The company was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on October 28, 2011, with stock code: 002626. In addition to vitamin a, its main products include coenzyme q10 and vitamin d3.
3.6 Capacity and Market Share by Manufacturers
| Manufacturer Name | Capacity tons/year |
| NHU | 10,000 |
| DSM | 7,500 |
| BASF | 6,000 |
| ZMC | 5,600 |
| Adisseo | 5,000 |
| Kingdowway | 2,900 |
4. Vitamin a synthesis methods
Vitamin A synthesis method is divided into Roche method and BASF method, both use citral as intermediate.
4.1 Roche method
Roche method uses citral and acetone as raw materials to synthesize β-violone, acetic acid, and chlorine gas to produce methyl chloroacetate, and the two then synthesize VA with C6. The advantage of Roche method is that the technology is mature, through the simple raw material can get a stable yield of VA, but the yield is stable at the same time and can not achieve a high yield, and the raw material will cause a certain degree of corrosion to the equipment. Currently, DSM, NHU, and Kingdomway use this process.
4.2 BASF method
The BASF method uses β-viologenone and acetylene as raw materials to synthesize acetylene-β-viologenone, then with hydrogen to produce C15, and finally with C5 to synthesize VA. the BASF process is simple, and the yield of VA obtained is high, but its cost is high and acetylene is toxic. Currently, BASF, ZMC, and Adisseo use this process.
5. Summary
Vitamin A is highly concentrated, with high capital and technical barriers, and it is difficult for new manufacturers to enter. 70-80% of it is used in feed, downstream in, low-cost share, rigid demand. Personally, I am optimistic about the prospects and development of vitamin a products, suitable for deep plowing.
6. Our services and advantages
6.1 What can we do for you?
- Original packaging
- Fresh batches
- Original documents
- Prompt delivery
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