Alterations in vitamin A metabolism during zinc deficiency and food and growth restriction.
The purpose of these experiments was to further elucidate the effect of the trace element, zinc, on vitamin A metabolism. Three experiments were conducted at two different locations using different sources of animals. A total of 95 rats were used; 71 specific pathogen free and 24 germfree. The results indicate that plasma vitamin A is depressed in zinc deficient animals or animals severely restricted in food and growth. Liver stores of vitamin A were adequate in both groups. Thus, the normal mechanism for maintaining plasma vitamin A appears to be altered by either zinc deficiency and/or severe food and growth restriction.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014801:Vitamin A; D015032:Zinc