Bitot-like spots in children with normal vitamin A levels

In order to induce a range of vitamin A-deficient states in young growing rats and to study the effect of vitamin A deficiency on Fe status, we designed the following two-generation experiment. Dams were fed on diets with one of five vitamin A levels from 2 weeks before and throughout pregnancy and lactation. The pups received the same diets as their mothers both before and after weaning. The five dietary levels of vitamin A were 1200, 450, 150, 75 and 0 retinol equivalents/kg feed. Vitamin A intake did not affect reproduction outcome, nor were body and liver weights of the pups affected when they were 3·5 weeks old. Male pups with normal vitamin A status had higher plasma retinol levels than female pups. Vitamin A status of the offspring was affected from 3·5 weeks onwards. Body and liver weights were decreased in the male pups given the lowest dietary vitamin A levels from week 6·5 onwards but not in the female pups. Fe status was marginally affected. Haemoglobin levels were increased and total Fe-binding capacity was decreased in the groups given no dietary vitamin A at week 9·5. Splenic Fe was increased only in the male pups given the lowest levels of dietary vitamin A. However, as a whole, Fe status was only mildly affected and subject to considerable variation. We conclude that the two-generation rat model described here is not suitable for studying effects of vitamin A deficiency on Fe metabolism.

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Relationship between vitamin A deficiency and the thyroid axis in clinically stable patients with liver cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2016-0056 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (9) ◽

pp. 985-991

Author(s):

Mervat M. El-Eshmawy ◽

Mona M. Arafa ◽

Rasha R. Elzehery ◽

Rania M. Elhelaly ◽

Mohamed M. Elrakhawy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Vitamin A ◽

Vitamin A Deficiency ◽

Thyroid Volume ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Vitamin A Status ◽

Normal Vitamin ◽

Thyroid Axis

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and altered thyroid function are commonly encountered in patients with liver cirrhosis. The link between vitamin A metabolism and thyroid function has been previously identified. The aim of this study was to explore the association between VAD and the thyroid axis in clinically stable patients with cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus (HCV). One hundred and twelve patients with clinically stable HCV-related cirrhosis and 56 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status were recruited for this study. Vitamin A status, liver function, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), and thyroid volume were evaluated. The prevalence of VAD among patients with HCV-related cirrhosis was 62.5% compared with 5.4% among controls (P < 0.001). Patients with HCV-related cirrhosis had significantly higher FT4, FT3, TSH, and thyroid volume than did healthy controls. Of the 112 patients initially recruited, 18 were excluded (patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and/or anti-TPO positive), so a total of 94 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis were divided into 2 groups according to vitamin A status: VAD and normal vitamin A. Patients with VAD had significantly lower vitamin A intake and serum albumin and higher serum bilirubin, FT4, FT3, and TSH than patients with normal vitamin A status. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that VAD was associated with Child–Pugh score (β = 0.11, P = 0.05) and TSH (β = –1.63, P = 0.02) independently of confounding variables. We conclude that VAD may be linked to central hyperthyroidism in patients with clinically stable HCV-related liver cirrhosis.

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The Morphology of Vacuolated Cells in the Liver Following Administration of Vitamin A.

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100072484 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 408-409

Author(s):

Odell T. Minick ◽

Hidejiro Yokoo ◽

Fawzia Batti

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Body Weight ◽

Vitamin A ◽

Light And Electron Microscopy ◽

Liver Cells ◽

Prominent Feature ◽

Vascular Space ◽

Vacuolated Cell ◽

Vacuolated Cells ◽

Vacuolated Cytoplasm

Vacuolated cells in the liver of young rats were studied by light and electron microscopy following the administration of vitamin A (200 units per gram of body weight). Their characteristics were compared with similar cells found in untreated animals.In rats given vitamin A, cells with vacuolated cytoplasm were a prominent feature. These cells were found mostly in a perisinusoidal location, although some appeared to be in between liver cells (Fig. 1). Electron microscopy confirmed their location in Disse's space adjacent to the sinusoid and in recesses between liver cells. Some appeared to be bordering the lumen of the sinusoid, but careful observation usually revealed a tenuous endothelial process separating the vacuolated cell from the vascular space. In appropriate sections, fenestrations in the thin endothelial processes were noted (Fig. 2, arrow).

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The Effect of Vitamin A on the Intermittent Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Exposure in Hamsters

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100090865 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

pp. 176-177

Author(s):

J.C.S. Kim ◽

M.G. Jourden ◽

E.S. Carlisle

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Vitamin A ◽

Nitrogen Dioxide ◽

Chronic Exposure ◽

Light And Electron Microscopy ◽

Specific Effect ◽

Deficient Diet ◽

Intermittent Exposure ◽

Hypovitaminosis A ◽

Gas Exposure

Chronic exposure to nitrogen dioxide in rodents has shown that injury reaches a maximum after 24 hours, and a reparative adaptive phase follows (1). Damage occurring in the terminal bronchioles and proximal portions of the alveolar ducts in rats has been extensively studied by both light and electron microscopy (1).The present study was undertaken to compare the response of lung tissue to intermittent exposure to 10 ppm of nitrogen dioxide gas for 4 hours per week, while the hamsters were on a vitamin A deficient diet. Ultrastructural observations made from lung tissues obtained from non-gas exposed, hypovitaminosis A animals and gas exposed animals fed a regular commercially prepared diet have been compared to elucidate the specific effect of vitamin A on nitrogen dioxide gas exposure. The interaction occurring between vitamin A and nitrogen dioxide gas has not previously been investigated.

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