[Relationships between serum vitamin-A and subjective health, blood and urinary biochemical parameters, dietary intake and food preferences in students].

Students, 60 females (mean age of 19 years) and 54 male (mean age of 23.8 years), were studied for relationships between serum vitamin A concentration (V-A level) and subjective health (by CMI method), birth order, blood and urinary parameters, dietary intake and food preferences. V-A level for females was significantly lower than for males. V-A level significantly and positively correlated to the parameters of hepatic enzymes (gamma-GTP, GOT, GPT), lipid (T-chol, TG) and urinary Na/K. The V-A level showed independent significant correlation to gamma-GTP in multiple regression analysis. V-A level of those born second in birth order showed a tendency to be lower than those first and third in birth order. In females, subjects without subjective CMI complaints had higher level of V-A than those with complaints. This tendency was not seen in males except for items related to the respiratory system. V-A level showed an apparent increase corresponding to daily intake of soybean and vegetables in females, and with amounts of drinking or smoking in male. In males, V-A levels showed a significant positive correlation to serum oxygen peroxide measured by malondialdehyde and did not show an anti-peroxidation effect. In addition positive correlation to total cholesterol was observed in males.