Studies in vitamin A

Abstract

The plasma vit. A, free and esterified vit. A in liver were detd. in rats on a diet with various levels of vit. A. The plasma vit. A levels were proportional to the concns. of vit. A alcohol in the livers, but not proportional to the total liver stores of vit. A, mainly esters. Plasma vit. A levels were maintained near normal (35-40 I. U. /100 ml.) even when liver stores approached exhaustion. Autolysis of intact liver at room temp. for 48 hrs. did not appreciably hydrolyze esterified vit. A or destroy vit. A. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to vit. A therapy in man.