The Effect of Vitamin A Deficiency on Some Postmortem Parameters of Avian Muscle

Abstract

The effect of the dietary status of vitamin A on carbohydrate metabolism, postmortem isometric tension development, and shear resistance of Pectoralis major muscle was studied. Depletion studies conducted over a 5-week period indicated a definite influence of vitamin A deficiency on muscle carbohydrate metabolism. Mild hypovitaminosis A induced an increase in glycogen deposition, whereas severe deficiency led to a reduction of these elevated stores. Vitamin A deficiency did not affect the ability of P. major strips to develop isometric tension postmortem. The P. major strips sampled from deficient cockerels generally required longer to reach maximum tension than those of controls. The extended times to maximum tension reflected an increased muscle glycogen content. A significant increase in shear value similarly corresponded to the increased myofibrillar contraction noted in the later deficiency stages. Cockerels which had previously received for five weeks a ration completely deficient in vitamin A were utilized for a two-week repletion study. Although there was a distinct delay in response to the feeding of a vitamin A adequate ration, the muscle glycogen content, isometric tension parameters, and shear values of repleted birds were similar to those of controls within the two-week period.

The Roles of Vitamin A in the Regulation of Carbohydrate, Lipid, and Protein Metabolism

“…However, very limited research has been performed to investigate the effects of VA on carbohydrate and protein metabolism in the skeletal muscle. In avian species, VA deficiency depletes the glycogen content in the pectoralis major muscle [ 183 ]. On the other hand, RA treatment of mouse myoblast C2C12 cells leads to increased glucose uptake, possibly through the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase [ 184 ].…”

Effects of vitamin A on carcass and meat quality of broilers

“… Sundeen et al (1980) , when evaluating diets that are poor in vitamin A, observed that birds with mild hypovitaminosis A had increased glycogen deposition in their pectoralis major muscle, and that, in cases of severe vitamin deficiency, these stocks were reduced. In cases when, after a period of deficiency, birds received diets adequately supplemented with vitamin A, the muscular glycogen content was equal to that of birds adequately supplemented.…”

“…According to Sundeen et al (1980) , vitamin A influences hepatic carbohydrate metabolism, where hepatic glycogen deposition is largely reduced in cases of hypovitaminosis A. This vitamin, as well as retinol, has a broad role in macronutrient homeostasis as an essential micronutrient and an indispensable lipophilic for the maintenance of the animals’ general health, since it seems to act on the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in the liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue, consequently playing a role in the metabolism of glucose and fatty acids ( Chen and Chen, 2014 ).…”

Níveis das vitaminas A e E em dietas de frangos de corte de 1 a 42 dias de idade

“…Estudando o efeito da vitamina A no metabolismo dos carboidratos e sua influência na musculatura das aves, SUNDEEN et al (1980) registraram que o fornecimento de rações deficientes em vitamina A para as aves, afetaram a integridade estrutural do tecido muscular, resultando músculos mais rijos, expressos pelo maior valor de resistência ao corte.…”