In order to be carried in the chylomicron, retinol (once in the enterocyte) is esterified by lecithin retinol acyl transferase.
All-trans-retinol is referred to as vitamin A, when a fatty acyl group is esterified to the hydroxyl terminus of retinol, a storage form of retinol, the retinyl ester, is formed. In tissues, retinal serves as an intermediate in the synthesis of retinoic acid from retinol.