Vitamin A concentrations in liver determined by isotope dilution assay with tetradeuterated vitamin A and by biopsy in generally healthy adult humans.
The vitamin A status in 11 generally healthy surgical patients was estimated by measuring the dilution of a 45-mg oral dose of tetradeuterated retinyl acetate (99% pure). After purification of retinol by high-performance liquid chromatography, the ratio of 2H4-retinol:1H-retinol in plasma was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. On the basis of the observed ratios of [2H4]retinol:[1H]retinol over 19-47 d, the total body reserves and liver concentrations of vitamin A were calculated. Liver biopsy samples taken at surgery were directly analyzed for vitamin A. The correlation coefficient between calculated and measured liver vitamin A concentrations for 10 of the subjects was 0.88, and the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was 0.95 (p less than 0.002). Thus, total body reserves of vitamin A in humans can be estimated validly in the marginal and satisfactory ranges by a benign, relatively noninvasive procedure.
Furr
H C
HC
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.
Amedee-Manesme
O
O
Clifford
A J
AJ
Bergen
H R
HR
Jones
A D
AD
Anderson
D P
DP
Olson
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003903:Deuterium; D006801:Humans; D007201:Indicator Dilution Techniques; D007554:Isotopes; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis*
D007554:Isotopes; D014801:Vitamin A; D003903:Deuterium