Vitamin A-deficient diet and its effect on the body weight of dehydroretinol-rich freshwater fish.

Vitamin A-deficient diet affected the body weight or growth of Heteropneustes fossilis, a freshwater siluroid rich in 3-4,dehydroretinol. The fish lost body weight after 20-30 days of administration of vitamin A-deficient diet. Cessation of growth occurred owing to vitamin A-deprivation, whereas control fish after supplementation of vitamin A continued their growth. Initial growth of the fish after administration of vitamin A-deficient diet is regulated by its initial vitamin A-reserve, whereas successive deficiency lead to the cessation of growth or weight loss. Supplementation of retinyl acetate to vitamin A-deficient fish compensate the loss of body weight.