The Biological Value of Carotene in Various Fats

Abstract

We did not succeed in confirming the work of others that decolorized butterfat gives growth promoting properties to carotene inferior to those obtained with cottonseed oil. When excessive amounts of carotene or vitamin A were fed in lard, soy bean oil, cottonseed oil, devitaminized butterfat and a hydrogenated vegetable fat,⁸ no marked differences in storage were obtained. Approximately equal growth responses were obtained when 1 microgram of carotene daily was fed in cottonseed oil, soy bean oil, lard, decolorized butterfat, coconut oil or crude peanut oil. Inferior growth was obtained on triolein, linseed oil and ‘refined’ peanut oil, but the rate of cure of ophthalmia was essentially the same on all oils.