Retinol, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol status in a French population of healthy subjects.

Serum concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol have been determined in an homogeneous French population of healthy subjects. The mean values retinol: 148 +/- 35 UI per deciliter; beta-carotene: 32 +/- 10 microgrammes per deciliter; alpha-tocopherol: 1 +/- 0.2 mg per deciliter and the frequency distribution of values do not dedicate the presence of nutritional deficiencies in such a population. However the 5% lowest and highest (and beyond) levels are taken into consideration in their possible correlation with other pathological states.