In previous report, it was observed that relative biopotency of vitamin A in fish liver oil differs due to the sample, namely in some samples vitamin A has almost same value with all-trans vitamin A, and in others it has 70% of relative biopotency of all-trans. These differences of relative biopotency due to sample liver oil were considered due to isomerization of vitamin A in fish liver oil.
From the above consideration, factors of isomarization of vitamin A in fish liver oil were researched. Degree of isomarization of vitamin A was measured by maleic value.
The results are as follows.
1) Isomarization by heat treatment was not remarkable. Heating of 150°C was not effective. Heating of 240°C resulted 50% isomarization by 30 minutes treatments.
2) The effect of liver tissue on isomarization of vitamin A was remarkable whether it was heated before incubation or not. Comparing rate of isomarization, tissue treatment was about 5 times of without tissue.
3) The proteinous materials had almost no effect, glucose and water also showing the same result, but rat blood and EDTA had effect to isomarization of vitamin A.
4) The effect of storage about 2 months on isomarization of vitamin A in purified fish liver oil was not remarkable.
From these results, it was considered that freshness of liver as raw material of vitamin oil and purity of liver oil as raw material of distilled oil are nescessary for making vitamin A oil having high relative biopotency.
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