Effect of dietary beta-carotene on the accumulation of beta-carotene and vitamin A in plasma and tissues of gilts.
The absorption of beta-carotene in pigs is limited. Nevertheless beta-carotene might positively affect reproduction. In this study the absorption and tissue distribution of beta-carotene as well as its function as precursor of vitamin A was investigated in gilts that were fed according to one of three dietary treatments: VA (4000 IU vitamin A), VA + VA (4000 IU + 8300 IU) and VA + BC (4000 IU + 100 mg beta-carotene per kg diet) for 14 weeks. Only in the VA + BC group was beta-carotene detected in plasma (1-8 ng x mL(-1)), liver, adrenals and corpora lutea, indicating that pigs absorb intact beta-carotene at low rates. Liver levels of vitamin A were higher (P < 0.01) at comparable levels in the VA + VA and VA + BC group than in the VA group, indicating a conversion rate of beta-carotene to vitamin A of 40 to 1 on the basis of weight for beta-carotene at this level (100 mg x kg(-1)) in the diet. Higher levels of vitamin A in the uterus of the VA + BC group (P < 0.01) as well as the accumulation of beta-carotene in adrenals and corpora lutea might reflect some influence of beta-carotene on local vitamin A metabolism which might be of importance for reproductive performance in gilts.
Schweigert
F J
FJ
Institute of Nutritional Science, University Potsdam, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Germany. fjschwei@rz.uni-potsdam.de
Buchholz
I
I
Schuhmacher
A
A
Gropp
J
J
D000042:Absorption; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A