High-dose dietary supplementation of vitamin A induces brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor production in mice with simultaneous deficiency of vitamin A and zinc.
Marginal vitamin A and zinc (Zn) deficiency often co-exist in many populations. Vitamin A plays a trophic role in brain and is important for its development. We investigated effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin A on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) production in mice depleted for vitamin A and Zn. After 3 months' feeding with a low vitamin A and Zn (LVA-LZ) diet, mice were divided into two groups and replenished with either normal or high vitamin A with low Zn diet for an additional 2 months. Levels of BDNF and NGF were measured from extracts of hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum at the end of the third and fifth months. The LVA-LZ group tended to show decreased amounts of the BDNF and NGF, while animals supplemented with high vitamin A along with Zn deficiency had high BDNF and NGF concentrations. From these results, we conclude that vitamin A may increase BDNF and NGF levels.
Kheirvari
Sorayya
S
Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
Uezu
Kayoko
K
Yamamoto
Shigeru
S
Nakaya
Yutaka
Y
D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D014801:Vitamin A; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D015032:Zinc