Effect of cholestin on toxicity of vitamin A in rats.

A study was undertaken to investigate the effect of cholestin on the toxicity of vitamin A in male wistar rats. The rats were divided into six groups and fed different diets with or without supplement of 1% cholestin and 25,000-50,000 (IU) vitamin A for 2 months. Hence, the symptoms of vitamin A toxicity in rats included loss of body weight, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. However, these toxic effects of vitamin A were significantly reduced when the rats fed a diet supplemented with cholestin. Furthermore, the level of vitamin A in the serum of rats treated with cholestin and vitamin A was higher than that of the rats treated with vitamin A alone. It indicated that cholestin might play a role in reducing the toxic effect of vitamin A in rats.