Experimental studies on the efficiency of conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A
Authors
최계영
Issue Date
1969
Description
의학과/박사
Abstract
[한글]
Experimental Studies on the Efficiency of Conversion of β-carotene to Vitamin A
Kei Young Choi, M.D.
Department of Biochemistry Graduate School, Yonsei University
(Directed by Professor Chung Suk Song, M.D. M.S.)
It is well known that in animals Vitamin A is formed from its
precursors(provitamin) which originally are obtained only from plants. These
precursors exsist as carotenoid pigments, the most important of which is
β-carotene.
Moore(1931) reported that β-carotene was converted to Vitamin A in rat's body.
Since then many investigators have studied the metabolism and absorption of
carotenoids. Davis and Moore(1937) observed that Vitamin A was stored in the rat
liver after carotene feeding. Goss and Guilbert(1939) calculated the minimal
maintenance level of Vitamin A and carotene in the rat, and Lewis et al.(1942)
reported the relationship of Vitamin A intake to growth and to the concentration of
Vitamin A in rat blood, liver and retinal. when the carotene was injected
intravenously into the rat, Sexton et al.(1946) found that the hepatic storage of
carotene(but not of Vitamin A). Bieri and Pollard(1955) and Zachman and Olson(1963)
reported that β-carotene was converted to Vitamin A in rat's liver or in other
tissues.
Previously it had been postulated that carotene was taken up by the Kupffer cells
and converted to Vitamin A in the liver. However, recently many investigators have
reported the intestinal metabolism of β-carotene in mammals differs from that of
rats. Carotene does not convert efficiently to retinol in the human intestine as
does occur in the rats and pigs intestine. These animals do not absorb carotene
until it has been metabolized at the intestinal wall to the retinyl ester(Wanger et
al., 1960; Olson, 1961; Hou et al., 1965; Huang and Goodman, 1965).
In view of these findings, the present investigation was undertaken to clarify
the difference of absorption of Vitamin A and β-carotene from the rat intestine;
secondly the degree of conversion of β-carotene to Vitamin A in the rat; and
thirdly to compare the findings in rats with those in human.
Male albino rats weighing an average of 90gms. were used from the first through
the fourth series of experiments. In the fifth series healthy Korean males weighing
an average of 60kgs. were used. The concentrations of Vitamin A and β-carotene in
the plasma and liver were determined by the method of Oser(1943), and the
concentration of plasma Vitamin C was determined by the method of Bessey(1944).
In the first series of experiments, the concentration of Vitamin A in the rat
liver and plasma were increased as the supplement of dietary Vitamin A was
increased. However, the concentration of asocorbic acid in the rats plasma was
decreased as the diet was supplemented with a high concentration of Vitamin A.
In the second series, only a limited amount of β-carotene was absorbed from the
gastrointestinal tract. The ascorbic acid concentration in the plasma was showed no
significant change.
The third series studied the absorption rate of Vitamin a and β-carotene in the
rat after the administration of these Vitamins. In Vitamin A group, the average
concentration of plasma Vitamin.
A was twice the level noted prior to the administration o vitamin A. In the
β-carotene group there were no changes in plasma concentration of vitamin A and
β-carotene.
The fourth series studied the amount of accumulated Vitamin A and β-carotene in
the rat liver following the injection of these Vitamins. Rat liver Vitamin a in the
test group was twice as much as that of control group. In contrast, there was no
increase of Vitamin a in the β-carotene group. No change in the plasma
concentration of Vitamin A and β-carotene was observed in either group.
The fifth series investigated the absorption of Vitamin A and β-carotene from
the human intestine. Four hours after the administration of Vitamin A the
concentration of plasma Vitamin A was increased to 3 times that of the control
group. Four hours following β-carotene administration the concentration of Vitamin
A in the plasma was 1.4 times that of the control group. Ones after the
administration of β-carotene was not significant. However by 8 hours the
β-carotene concentration in the plasma was increased slowly. The plasma Vitamin A
concentration was slightly increased as was the plasma β-carotene concentration.
The results may be briefly summarized as follows:
1. IN the rats, β-carotene is not absorbed as β-carotene from the intestine,
but is absorbed after being converted to the vitamin A ester. The amount of vitamin
A accumulated in liver when β-carotene was administered was only one twenty-fifty
that accumulated when Vitamin A was give.
2. After the intramuscular administration of β-carotene, no increase in Vitamin
A was observed in rat blood and liver.
3. In humans, the efficiency of conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A was higher
than in rats.
This is shown by the increase in plasma Vitamin a concentration after the
administration of β-carotene.
4. Vitamin A is absorbed as rapidly in rats as it is in humans.
5. The ascorbic acid in rat plasma decreased after administration of large amount
of Vitamin A.
[영문]
It is well known that in animals Vitamin A is formed from its
precursors(provitamin) which originally are obtained only from plants. These precursors exsist as carotenoid pigments, the most important of which is β-carotene.
Moore(1931) reported that β-carotene was converted to Vitamin A in rat's body.
Since then many investigators have studied the metabolism and absorption of carotenoids. Davis and Moore(1937) observed that Vitamin A was stored in the rat liver after carotene feeding. Goss and Guilbert(1939) calculated the minimal maintenance level of Vitamin A and carotene in the rat, and Lewis et al.(1942)
reported the relationship of Vitamin A intake to growth and to the concentration of Vitamin A in rat blood, liver and retinal. when the carotene was injected intravenously into the rat, Sexton et al.(1946) found that the hepatic storage of carotene(but not of Vitamin A). Bieri and Pollard(1955) and Zachman and Olson(1963) reported that β-carotene was converted to Vitamin A in rat's liver or in other tissues.
Previously it had been postulated that carotene was taken up by the Kupffer cells and converted to Vitamin A in the liver. However, recently many investigators have reported the intestinal metabolism of β-carotene in mammals differs from that of rats. Carotene does not convert efficiently to retinol in the human intestine as does occur in the rats and pigs intestine. These animals do not absorb carotene until it has been metabolized at the intestinal wall to the retinyl ester(Wanger et al., 1960; Olson, 1961; Hou et al., 1965; Huang and Goodman, 1965).
In view of these findings, the present investigation was undertaken to clarify the difference of absorption of Vitamin A and β-carotene from the rat intestine; secondly the degree of conversion of β-carotene to Vitamin A in the rat; and
thirdly to compare the findings in rats with those in human.
Male albino rats weighing an average of 90gms. were used from the first through the fourth series of experiments. In the fifth series healthy Korean males weighing an average of 60kgs. were used. The concentrations of Vitamin A and β-carotene in
the plasma and liver were determined by the method of Oser(1943), and the concentration of plasma Vitamin C was determined by the method of Bessey(1944).
In the first series of experiments, the concentration of Vitamin A in the rat liver and plasma were increased as the supplement of dietary Vitamin A was increased. However, the concentration of asocorbic acid in the rats plasma was
decreased as the diet was supplemented with a high concentration of Vitamin A.
In the second series, only a limited amount of β-carotene was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The ascorbic acid concentration in the plasma was showed no significant change.
The third series studied the absorption rate of Vitamin a and β-carotene in the rat after the administration of these Vitamins. In Vitamin A group, the average concentration of plasma Vitamin.
A was twice the level noted prior to the administration o vitamin A. In the β-carotene group there were no changes in plasma concentration of vitamin A and β-carotene.
The fourth series studied the amount of accumulated Vitamin A and β-carotene in the rat liver following the injection of these Vitamins. Rat liver Vitamin a in the test group was twice as much as that of control group. In contrast, there was no increase of Vitamin a in the β-carotene group. No change in the plasma
concentration of Vitamin A and β-carotene was observed in either group.
The fifth series investigated the absorption of Vitamin A and β-carotene from the human intestine. Four hours after the administration of Vitamin A the concentration of plasma Vitamin A was increased to 3 times that of the control group. Four hours following β-carotene administration the concentration of Vitamin
A in the plasma was 1.4 times that of the control group. Ones after the administration of β-carotene was not significant. However by 8 hours the β-carotene concentration in the plasma was increased slowly. The plasma Vitamin A concentration was slightly increased as was the plasma β-carotene concentration.
The results may be briefly summarized as follows:
1. IN the rats, β-carotene is not absorbed as β-carotene from the intestine, but is absorbed after being converted to the vitamin A ester. The amount of vitamin A accumulated in liver when β-carotene was administered was only one twenty-fifty
that accumulated when Vitamin A was give.
2. After the intramuscular administration of β-carotene, no increase in Vitamin A was observed in rat blood and liver.
3. In humans, the efficiency of conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A was higher than in rats.
This is shown by the increase in plasma Vitamin a concentration after the administration of β-carotene.
4. Vitamin A is absorbed as rapidly in rats as it is in humans.
5. The ascorbic acid in rat plasma decreased after administration of large amount of Vitamin A.