Science: Synthetic A

A commercial process for making synthetic vitamin A, last of the important vitamins to be produced artificially, was announced last week by Distillation Products, Inc., of Rochester, N.Y. Vitamin A, needed for proper growth and vision and for resistance to disease, is found in fresh vegetables and other natural foods. Its chief commercial source is fish-liver oils.

Distillation Products, Inc. is not worried at present about the future of the fishermen who depend on liver sales. Still, the company points out, the synthetic vitamin will probably benefit millions of people who cannot afford the natural product.