In vitro secretion and uptake of radioactive vitamin A in rats fed different dietary proteins.

Generally, protein energy malnutrition is accompanied with vitamin A deficiency. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the importance of the quality and the quantity of dietary proteins on the in vitro secretion and uptake of vitamin A in growing rats. The results show that the in vitro release of radioactive vitamin A was greater in rats fed Bengal gram diets as compared to those fed casein diets. However, this relationship between the two groups of rats was reversed for the in vitro uptake of radioactive vitamin A from plasma by various extrahepatic tissues. Thus the vitamin A status of the animal is profoundly influenced by the quality and the quantity of dietary proteins.