EFFECT OF VITAMIN-A SUPPLEMENTATION FOR 3 DAYS ON IRON-METABOLISM, LIVER-FUNCTION INDICATOR ENZYMES AND DIFFERENTIAL CELL COUNTS IN BONE-MARROW OF RATS WITH SEVERE VITAMIN-A-DEFICIENCY

Rats with severe vitamin A deficiency were supplemented with vitamin A for 3 days; control rats were not supplemented. Vitamin A supplementa tion produced an increase in plasma retinol levels, but iron metabolis m as assessed by hematological variables, plasma iron concentration, t otal iron-binding capacity and organ iron content was not affected. Th e high plasma concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and as partate aminotransferase (ASAT) in the control rats, indicative of liv er damage, were normalized by vitamin A supplementation. Differential counts of bone marrow cells revealed that vitamin A supplementation in creased myelopoiesis relative to erythropoiesis. We conclude that vita min A supplementation for 3 days to rats with severe vitamin A deficie ncy corrects liver damage, influences blood cell synthesis, but does n ot affect iron status. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.