COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF AQUEOUS AND OILY PREPARATIONS OF VITAMIN A

Abstract

Vitamin A toxicity in the rat as manifested by mortality rate and incidence of spontaneous fractures was greater following the administration of excessive amounts of vitamin A in an aqueous menstruum as compared to a similar intake of the vitamin in an oily vehicle. Liver damage, due to vitamin A toxicity, impaired the ability of the liver to store the vitamin. Ingestion of toxic doses of the aqueous preparation resulted in greater depression of liver storage than comparable amounts of the oily product. The mechanism of vitamin A toxicity is discussed.