[The effect of various levels of chitosan in rat diet on vitamins assimilation under their combined deficiency].

he effect of chitosan inclusion in the semi-synthetic diet of rats at a dose of 0,24 and 0,9% of dry weight on vitamin assimilation under combined moderate and deep deficiency has been studied. Four-week introduction of chitosan did not have a significant effect on levels of vitamins C, B1, B2 and A in the liver of animals, on vitamin B2 blood plasma concentration and thiamine and riboflavin urinary excretion regardless of the degree of vitamin deficiency intensity. The significantly decrease of vitamin E blood plasma concentration has been observed at high dose of chitosan in the diet under moderate vitamin deficiency, whereas under deep deficit such reduction has been detected even at a low dose. Thus, long-term chitosan inclusion in the diet under existing polyhypovitaminosis can lead to the deterioration of the sufficiency with fat-soluble vitamins.