Effect of dietary beta-carotene on the accumulation of beta-carotene and vitamin A in plasma and tissues of gilts [tissue distribution, absorption] | Effet du beta-carotene alimentaire sur l'accumulation de beta-carotene et de vitamine A dans le plasma et les tissus de la jeune truie [distribution dns les tissus]
2001
Schweigert, F.J. (University of Potsdam (Allemagne). Institute of Nutritional Science) | Buchholz, I. | Schuhmacher, A. | Gropp, J.
The absorption of beta-carotene in pigs is limited. Nevertheless beta-carotene might positively affect reproduction. In this study the absorption and tissue distribution of beta-carotene as well as its function as precursor of vitamin A was investigated in gilts that were fed according to one of three dietary treatments: VA (4000 IU vitamin A), VA + VA (4000 IU + 8300 IU) and VA + BC (4000 IU + 100 mg beta-carotene per kg diet) for 14 weeks. Only in the VA + BC group was beta-carotene detected in plasma (1-8 ng/mL), liver, adrenals and corpora lutea, indicating that pigs absorb intact beta-carotene at low rates. Liver levels of vitamin A were higher (P 0.01) at comparable levels in the VA + VA and VA + BC group than in the VA group, indicating a conversion rate of beta-carotene to vitamin A of 40 to 1 on the basis of weight for beta-carotene at this level (100 mg/kg) in the diet. Higher levels of vitamin A in the uterus of the VA + BC group (P 0.01) as well as the accumulation of beta-carotene in adrenals and corpora lutea might reflect some influence of beta-carotene on local vitamin A metabolism which might be of importance for reproductive performance in gilts
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