Plasma Vitamin A and Carotene Determinations in a Group of Normal Children

Abstract

The plasma vitamin A and carotene levels of 95 healthy children from two days to 16 years of age are described and the deviation with age shown. Plasma vitamin A correlates slightly with the amount of vitamin A concentrate given, while plasma carotene shows a much higher correlation with intake of vitamin A from plant sources. Infants show a significant sex difference in both vitamin A and carotene levels, the girls having higher values. Just before the start of adolescence in the girls the reverse sex difference appears, but this time in plasma carotene only; that is, the girls have much lower values. As the boys approach adolescence later, their carotene levels also drop. There is a significant seasonal variation in plasma carotene but not in vitamin A.