Vitamin A status affects the efficacy of iron repletion in rats with mild iron deficiency.

In populations with vitamin A deficiency, vitamin A administration in addition to supplemental iron has been shown to further improve blood indicators of iron status. To obtain clues to associated changes at the level of organ indicators of iron status, we have attempted to mimic previous human studies in a rat model. The influence of vitamin A on selected indices of iron metabolism was studied during iron repletion of rats with mild iron deficiency combined with either vitamin A deficiency or normal vitamin A status. In the vitamin A-deficient rats, but not in those with normal vitamin A status, the administration of vitamin A raised body weight and liver weight. Vitamin A administration also raised the total iron-binding capacity and plasma iron concentrations but depressed iron concentrations in liver, kidney, spleen, and bone in the vitamin A-deficient rats. We conclude that vitamin A administration to rats with both vitamin A and iron deficiency enhances the utilization of iron.