[Vitamin A status in patients with cholelithiasis].

In order to assess the status of vitamin A and determine the frequency of vitamin A deficiency in adults with cholelithiasis, we measured plasma vitamin A levels in 40 healthy subjects and 64 patients with cholelithiasis. Among them, 40 were icteric and the remaining 24 were anicteric. Vitamin A levels were determined in biopsied liver tissues in 26 patients with cholelithiasis. Plasma levels of vitamin A in patients with cholelithiasis was significantly lower than that of healthy subjects (P < 0.05). A significant difference of vitamin A in liver tissue was noted between these two patient groups (P < 0.05). The frequency of vitamin A deficiency, defined as a plasma vitamin a level below 90 micrograms/dl, was 50% (32/64) in cholelithiasis patients, 65% (26/40) in jaundiced patients, and 25% (6/24) in jaundice-free patients. We conclude that biochemical deficiency of vitamin A occurs in patients with cholelithiasis. We suggest that vitamin A should be evaluated in patients with cholelithiasis, and an effective therapy should be initiated to prevent vitamin A deficiency.