Bodily Storage of Vitamin A in Relation to Diet and Age Studied by Means of the Antimony Trichloride Reaction Using a Photoelectric Colorimeter

Abstract

The effect of three levels of vitamin A on liver storage of this vitamin in the albino rat at 30, 60, 90, 150, and 300 days of age has been studied. There was a statistically significant increase in the storage of vitamin A per gram of liver tissue as the level of intake was increased from 3 to 6 I.U. and from 6 to 12 I.U. per gram of diet. At a level of intake of 3 I.U. per gram, there was very little storage of the vitamin and no increase in storage with increasing age up to 300 days. The vitamin A value of 3 I.U. per gram is not optimal and in the light of these storage results appears to be near the minimal limit of adequacy.