The effect of different dietary levels of vitamin A on metabolism of copper iron and zinc in the chick.

Chicks were fed on diets containing either no added vitamin A or 3300 micrograms/kg or 330,000 micrograms/kg retinol equivalents for 30 d. Concentrations of copper, iron and zinc were higher in liver and lower in plasma at low and high intakes of vitamin A. Haemoglobin, packed cell volume and erythrocyte levels were depressed by both low and high vitamin A intake and could be related to vitamin A levels by quadratic equations. The Zn and Fe levels in erythrocytes and serum albumin and ceruloplasmin were also affected in a similar fashion by low or high vitamin A diets. Hepatic activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and cytochrome oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) paralleled Zn and Cu concentrations respectively. Superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and hydrolysis of triolein and retinyl palmitate were not correlated significantly with concentrations of metals but were correlated negatively with log vitamin A concentration. No changes in bone concentrations of Cu, Fe or Zn were detected. It is suggest that vitamin A influences metabolism of Cu, Fe and Zn possibly, in part, due to a decrease in secretion of transport proteins by the liver.