Iron status in rats fed a purified diet without vitamin A

The effect of vitamin A deficiency on iron status was investigated in rats. After 28 d of feeding either low or high vitamin A diets (0 vs 4000 IU of vitamin A per kg feed), the final body weight was slightly but significantly lowered by the low vitamin A diet. Plasma retinol concentrations were decreased in rats fed diets low in vitamin A. Marginal vitamin A deficiency produced slightly, but significantly lower blood hemoglobin concentrations; it did not clearly affect hematocrit. The concentration of iron in liver was significantly higher when diets low in vitamin A were fed while significantly lower levels were observed in femur.