Effect of vitamin A deficiency on the level of glutathione and glutathione S-transferase activity in rat colon and liver.

The effect of vitamin A status on colon and liver glutathione content and the activity of glutathione S-transferase was studied in rats. Animals were fed diets with or without vitamin A for 4-5 weeks. There was no difference in the weight gains of control and deficient animals. Hepatic and colonic level of vitamin A was significantly reduced in vitamin A deficient animals. Hepatic glutathione content was below control values (31%); whereas activity of glutathione S-transferase was enhanced in deficient animals (41.2%). Contrary to this, colon glutathione S-transferase activity was significantly reduced (40.7%) and glutathione content remained unchanged in vitamin A deficiency.