A study of liver reserves of vitamin A in Malaysians.

The liver contains more vitamin A than other organs in the body and under normal circumstances in healthy individuals 90% or more of the total body stores of vitamin A are found in the liver, whereas only 1-3% is in the circulation.' The serum and liver concentrations of vitamin A are not correlated in adequately nourished individuals, and serum levels reflect liver levels only when the liver stores are depleted.2 There are reports on the determination of liver reserves o f vitamin A from some c o ~ n t r i e s . ~ ~ ~ However no figures have been recorded for Malaysia, where vitamin A deficiency continues to be a health problem.5 The present study provides baseline data on vitamin A reserves in Malaysians and thus affords a comparison with the findings from other countries.