The effect of varying levels of dietary vitamin A on immune response in the chick.

The effect of dietary vitamin A on antibody production and T cell proliferative response was determined in broilers from 21 to 39 d old. Chicks were fed soybean meal-sorghum diets with levels of supplemented vitamin A from 0 to 13,200 micrograms/kg retinol equivalents from hatching and were immunized with beta-casein at 21 d of age. T cell proliferation response to beta-casein or an acetone precipitate of antigen to Mycobacterium tuberculosis was determined in vitro at 34 to 37 d old. Antibodies to beta-casein in serum were determined every 5 d from 21 d of age. In chicks with no added dietary vitamin A, antibody production and proliferative response were depressed in comparison with chicks receiving vitamin A. Addition of small amounts of vitamin A enhanced the responses; both antibody production and proliferative responses increased with dietary vitamin A until the diet contained 6,660 micrograms/kg, above which the responses decreased. This suggests that maximal immune responses in the chick may be achieved at dietary intakes considerably higher than NRC recommendations.