Abstract
The vitamin A and β-carotene contents of blood were measured after the administration of 200 mg of β-carotene to each of 34 male patients of 12-28 years old, who had previously taken a low carotene diet. The β-carotene content of the plasma was slightly or scarecely increased by the administration, while a certain but not remarkable increase of vitamin A was observed in all cases. However, the vitamin A alcohol content was not affected by the β-carotene administration. It was, therefore, recognized that the increase of vitamin A was due to that of its ester. Furthermore, it was found that after the β-carotene administration the vitamin A content of the plasma reached to a maximum value more rapidly than the β-carotene level.
