Inflammation is a common response to infection and disease challenges in swine, but it can complicate how nutrient status is interpreted. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient involved in immune function, growth and overall health, yet its circulating levels can decline during periods of inflammation even when dietary intake is adequate. This occurs because vitamin A is primarily stored in the liver and released into circulation as needed — a process that is reduced during inflammatory responses.
When inflammation is present, transport proteins associated with vitamin A decrease while inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein, increase. As a result, low circulating vitamin A may reflect active inflammation rather than a true nutritional deficiency.
Understanding this relationship is critical for avoiding unnecessary supplementation and for correctly interpreting health data. By evaluating vitamin A status alongside markers of inflammation, producers and veterinarians can gain clearer insight into pig health, focus on managing underlying inflammatory challenges and support more informed nutritional and management decisions across the herd.
