Utilization of vitamin A from a stabilized dry preparation. Comparative experiments with chickens.

Abstract

A dry preparation of vitamin A, Dohyfral Extra A-325, was compared with a solution of the vitamin in fish liver oil. Different groups of chicks were given one of the preparations either freshly mixed with the food or directly into the beak.

In one experiment pairs of 1 male and 1 female were killed after 3 weeks and vitamin A in the liver of the chicks receiving the dry preparation was found to be higher, 248 +or- 25 I.U. per single liver, than in those receiving fish liver oil, 126 +or- 30 I.U. Direct administration gave a lower liver content than mixing with the feed.

In a second experiment the weight of the chicks was recorded 4 weeks from the beginning of administration of the vitamin, which was given at 5 levels. The dry preparation was 1.3 time as active as the solution in oil. The solution in fish liver oil was less stable than the dry preparation. J. Quarterman. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)