Studies on incorporation of glucose-14C into intestinal lipids in vitamin A deficient rats.

The effect of vitamin A deficiency on the incorporation ofC14 from glucose_14C into intestinal
lipids was studied. Groups of weanling rats were maintained on a vitamin A deficient diet along
with controls receiving vitamin A supplement. Rats at the "weight plateau" stage of deficiency with
comparable normal controls were used in this study.
These studies show that vitamin A deficiency resulted in significant decrease in the triglycerides
coupled with increase in the free fatty acid content of intestinal lipids. Slight increases in cholesterol,
phospholipid and monoglyceride fractions were observed. The incorporation of glucose_14C was
greater in all the fractions of lipids from the vitamin A. deficient group.
The possible effects of vitamin A. deficiency on lipase activity or on the process involved in the
synthesis of triglycerides and other chylomicron components are discussed.