Total Adipose Retinol Concentrations Are Correlated with Total Liver Retinol Concentrations in Male Mongolian Gerbils, but Only Partially Explained by Chylomicron Deposition Assessed with Total α-Retinol

Liver vitamin A (VA) concentration is the gold standard for VA status, but is not routinely accessible. Adipose tissue VA concentrations, as retinol and retinyl esters, may be correlated to liver VA. α-VA (as α-retinol) is a cleavage product of α-carotene that traces postprandial VA distribution to tissues but cannot recirculate from hepatic stores, providing insight into tissue VA sources. We performed a secondary analysis of VA and α-VA in Mongolian gerbil liver and adipose to determine the suitability of adipose tissue VA as a biomarker of VA status. Gerbils (n = 186) consumed feeds containing 0–15.9 μg (0–55.6 nmol) retinol activity equivalents/g as preformed VA and/or provitamin A carotenoids for 36–62 d in 3 studies. Body fat percentage was determined in the final study by MRI. Serum and liver retinol, α-retinol, and retinyl esters were extracted and analyzed by HPLC or ultra-performance LC (UPLC). Epididymal and retroperitoneal adipose tissue retinol and α-retinol were determined by UPLC after homogenization, saponification, and extraction. Linear regression models with appropriate data transformations identified determinants of adipose VA concentrations. Liver VA did not predict serum retinol concentrations. After logarithmic transformation of adipose and liver values, liver VA positively predicted both adipose depots’ VA concentrations (P < 0.001, R2 > 0.7). Adding serum retinol or body fat percentage did not significantly increase the adjusted R2. In liver, α-VA concentration explained much of the variation of VA (P < 0.001, R2 > 0.7), but far less in epididymal and retroperitoneal adipose (P = 0.004 and 0.012, respectively, R2 < 0.4). Adipose VA is correlated with liver VA and is a potential biomarker of VA status. It is not fully explained by chylomicron deposition and is negatively affected by serum retinol. Adipose biopsy validation is needed for human applications.