Vitamin E Supplementation During Acute Hypovitaminosis A of the Calf

Abstract

To study whether tocopherol supplementation would alleviate pathological lesions occurring in vitamin A deficiency, d,l-alpha-tocopheryl acetate was added to a group of six or withheld from a group of seven vitamin A deficient calves for 4 weeks. Plasma vitamin A, hematocrit, plasma and whole blood potassium, serum total protein and protein distribution, serum glutamic-oxalacetic and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activities, and cerebrospinal fluid pressures were not significantly affected by vitamin E supplementation. Plasma tocopherol concentrations were markedly increased, and red blood cell hemolysis induced by hydrogen peroxide was decreased. Sodium and potassium content of the heart averaged essentially the same for both groups. Incidences of squamous metaplasia of the parotid gland and duct, papilledema, necrosis of the optic nerve, and pituitary cysts were not significantly different. © 1973, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.