THE MAJORITY OF VITAMIN-A IS TRANSPORTED AS RETINYL ESTERS IN THE BLOOD OF MOST CARNIVORES

1. 1. In canines and mustelides total vitamin A was 10-50 times higher compared to other species due to a high amount of retinyl esters (40-99% of total vitamin A) in blood plasma. The dominant vitamin A ester was in most species retinyl stearate. 2. 2. In Ursidae, Procyonidae, Viveridae and Felidae, total vitamin A was much lower. When present, however, retinyl esters also represented 10-65% of total vitamin A in plasma. 3. 3. Only retinol was detected in plasma of the family, Hyaenidae, and the suborder, Pinnipedia. 4. 4. In maned wolf cubs it was found that retinol, retinyl esters and α-tocopherol increased with the age of the animals, reaching values comparable to adult animals at the age of 5 months. © 1990.