Liver levels of vitamin a and cellular retinol‐binding protein for patients wth biliary atresia

Abstract

We have examined whether the amount of cellular retinol‐binding protein in human liver is related to the amount of vitamin A stored in the liver. Levels of vitamin A, as retinol and retinol esters, and of cellular retinol‐binding protein have been determined in liver samples from 6 normal adults and 11 children with biliary atresia, with and without vitamin A treatment. The level of cellular retinol‐binding protein in the liver was not related to the liver vitamin A concentration examined over a 300‐fold range of vitamin A levels. Also, biliary atresia did not appear to interfere with storage of vitamin A, and the level of cellular retinol‐binding protein was comparable to that observed in the liver of normal adults. The demonstration of proper vitamin A storage in treated children as well as normal levels of cellular retinol‐binding protein suggest the vitamin A deficiency frequently observed in children with biliary atresia may be due primarily to faulty absorption rather than a combination of poor absorption and impaired hepatic vitamin A metabolism. Copyright © 1987 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases