Vitamin A is fat soluble, and to be absorbed, must be taken with a little fat.  Vitamin A is also stored in the body in fat: too much Vitamin A can be toxic, and cause birth defects in babies, and neurologic problems in adults. Vitamin A helps create vision and cell growth.

Beta carotene, on the other hand, is not a vitamin.  It is converted into vitamin A in the body, and is brightly colored.  It is water soluble.  Too much beta carotene in certain people, especially male smokers, has been associated with the development of lung cancer. Beta carotene is an anti-oxidant. 25000 IUs of beta carotene equals 15 mg of it.