Vitamin A and carotene

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Abstract
Two groups of young rats growing for a few weeks on diets high and low in vitamin A demonstrated reserves of vitamin A (by SbCl3) in the liver in agreement with the composition of the two diets. Other rats from both groups were then given a diet deficient in vitamin A; successive determinations of vitamin A in the livers of members of the groups and the weight curves revealed marked differences. Those having low reserves ceased growing after 5 weeks, those having high reserves continued to grow for several months. The SbCl3 reaction became negative when growth ceased. When halibut-liver oil was given weight restoration resulted in most cases, and the liver reactions were invariably strongly positive. The reality of the vitamin A reserve is thus emphasised, also the importance in routine vitamin A determinations of using rats which have been reared under conditions ensuring low reserves.

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