Role of Vitamin A in Induction of Vitamin K Deficiency in the Rat

Abstract

Addition of 0.5 I.U. of vitamin A acetate per gram of diet containing irradiated beef led to significant depression of prothrombin (viper venom assay) in weanling male rats at 8 weeks, while more vitamin A was required to produce similar fall in prothrombin if diets contained fresh beef or casein. Female rats were more resistant than males. Adult males were also susceptible to vitamin A induced hypo-prothrombinemia. Vitamin A acid was more effective in lowering prothrombin. Vitamin K1 diphosphate at 2 [mu]g/g diet reversed the effect of vitamin A and partially reversed the effect of vitamin A acid.