Alterations of the lipid metabolism of rat liver as early symptoms of vitamin A deficiency.

In a mild vitamin A deficiency state, noticeable only by slight growth retardation, the incorporation of 14C from acetate and glucose into cholesterol of rat liver is first, 20 minutes after the injection of the precursors strongly stimulated, followed by a rapid reduction of the incorporation rates. The fatty acid synthesis from acetate is similar, but less affected. The fatty acid content of the liver is reduced of half of that of the controls, whereas the cholesterol content remains unchanged.