Abstract
The carotin and vitamin A levels of the blood of the mother was examined prior to and postpartum. Before delivery, the carotin level is high and vitamin A is reduced and this relationship becomes reversed postpartum. In the later stages of pregnancy, liver dysfunction is seen. It is thus suggested that the mechanism by which large amounts of carotinoide appear in the colostrum is based on a disturbance in the transformation of vitamin A from carotin resulting due to a liver dysfunction occurring as a part of pregnancy toxicosis.
