[Vitamin A status in liver diseases in children. Study based on 79 hepatic biopsies]

The authors studied the vitamin A status of 79 children, 71 of whom had liver disease. Plasma levels indicate low vitamin A concentration only when they are below 10 micrograms/dl. Study of liver concentration is currently the reference to appreciate vitamin A status. These concentrations are low in children with cholestasis. The lower the liver concentration, the higher the percentage of retinol in the liver. The percentage of the various retinyl esters is however independent of liver concentrations. The authors propose a model for the regulation of vitamin A metabolism within 4 pools.