INFLUENCE OF HEPATIC FUNCTION ON METABOLISM OF VITAMIN A

Abstract

Many facts indicate an influence of the liver on the metabolism of vitamin A. In acute¹ and chronic² hepatic disease the vitamin A content of the blood is low. Night blindness due to deficiency of vitamin A has been reported in acute hepatitis³ and in cirrhosis even without jaundice.⁴ The vitamin A content of the liver is low in chronic hepatitides (cirrhoses)⁵ and variable in acute hepatitis and in catarrhal or arsphenamine jaundice.⁶ The histologic distribution of vitamin A in the liver is considerably changed by damage to the liver.⁷ Several factors have been mentioned to explain the foregoing observations, such as: (1) faulty absorption of vitamin A and especially of carotene from the intestinal tract⁸; (2) inability of the liver to store vitamin A, although more emphasis is laid on alterations of the reticuloendothelial system than on damage to the hepatic