The Stability of Carotene and Vitamin A in a Mixed Ration

NUMEROUS investigators have shown that both carotene and vitamin A are unstable. Holmes, Corbet, and Hartzler (1936) reported that the vitamin A in cod liver oil and halibut liver oil was completely destroyed in 6 and 21 weeks, respectively, when the oils were stored in. partially filled brown bottles at room temperature in diffused light. The addition of hydroquinone or lecithin to the oils reduced the loss of vitamin A significantly. Marcus (1931) noted an 85 percent loss of the vitamin A in a cod liver oil concentrate in 10 days when added to a vitamin A-free rat ration. The addition of the concentrate to granulated lactose resulted in a 90 percent loss in vitamin A in eight days. Lowen, Anderson, and Harrison (1937) also reported a marked loss of vitamin A in halibut liver oil and salmon oil when they were exposed to air in diffused light in a . . .