The Influence of Dietary Vitamin A on Atherogenesis in Japanese Quail ,

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to study the influence of vitamin A on atherosclerosis. In one experiment quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were hatched and immediately placed on diets deficient in vitamin A (880 U.S.P. units/kg. of feed), normal in vitamin A (4,400 U.S.P. units/kg. of feed) or excessive in vitamin A (22,000 and 220,000 U.S.P. units/kg. of feed). In a second experiment, mature male quail were placed on the same diets as in the preceding experiment. All experiments were conducted for 10 weeks. At the end of 10 weeks on experimental rations, blood pressure was measured by cannulation of the carotid artery. The results indicate that birds fed low levels of vitamin A had the highest incidence of coronary atherosclerosis and most severe aortic atherosclerosis. It was determined that a minimum of approximately 15,000 U.S.P. units of the vitamin were needed to minimize atherosclerosis in the thoracic aorta in growing quail chicks.Blood pressure was not significantly altered by varying vitamin A in the diet.