Microsomal lipid peroxidation and oxidative metabolism in rat liver: influence of vitamin A intake.

Introduction In several experimental animal systems, lack of vitamin A is associated with enhanced susceptibility to chemical carcinogenesis [1-3] and there are reports also of alterations in the activity of certain microsomal oxidation-reduction enzymes [4-:-6]. It seemed possible that both effects are related to loss of vitamin A protection against free radical-induced membrane-lipid peroxidation. We have accordingly undertaken parallel studies of peroxidation and various microsomal metabolic activities in both vitamin A-deficient and vitamin A-loaded rats, in comparison with normal controls.