The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin A or $eta$-carotene on oxidative damage induced by acute ethanol administration. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on the experimental diets supplemented with retinyl acetate (2.86 mg/kg diet) or $eta$-carotene (15.2 mg/kg diet) for 5 weeks. After fed the diet, rats were administered 20% ethanol solution (3g/kg B.W.) acutely. Lipid peroxide values in hepatic tissue, hepatic antioxidative enzyme activities and contents of antioxidative nutrient such as vitamins A and E in serum and hepatic tissue were measured. Hepatic level of malondialdehyde decreased in $eta$-carotene group compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference between retinal acetate and $eta$-carotene groups. Superoxide dismutase activity was higher in retinal acetate group than in the control group. Hepatic glutathione-S-transferase activity of retinal acetate and $eta$-carotene groups significantly decreased as compared with that of control group. The hepatic content of retinol increased in retinal acetate and $eta$-carotene groups, especially, in retinyl acetate group. But there was no significant difference in serum content of retinol among the groups. Hepatic content of $alpha$-tocopherol was significantly increased in retinyl acetate and $eta$-carotene groups. In conclusion, acute ethanol administration might induce lipid peroxidation, and the dietary supplementation of retinyl acetate or $eta$-carotene improve partly the antioxidative system through activation of superoxide dismutase and retention of hepatic $alpha$-tocopherol in ethanol-treated rats.