Figure 1. Vitamin A absorption and retina uptake Vitamin A is denoted as lollipops. RBP: Retinol binding protein. RE: retinal epithelium. Dietary vitamin A is absorbed by the intestine and packaged into chylomicrons, which are secreted into the circulation. Plasma chylomicrons can deliver vitamin A to tissues or to the liver where vitamin A is stored and rereleased into circulation as retinol bound to its binding protein (RBP) for tissue uptake.