| Growing awareness of vitamin D status in the United States has resurfaced due to increasing reports of insufficiency and deficiency. Epidemiological research indicates that average intake of this nutrient is well below the RDA, and greater intake has been linked to optimal bone health, prevention of osteoporosis, osteomalacia, rickets, and other chronic diseases.;The first objective of this research was to test a water-soluble form of vitamin D as a fortifying ingredient in a flavored aqueous solution. Vitamin D was extracted by organic solvents and assayed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The second objective was to test the ability of different vitamer sources (D2 versus D3) and quantitative amounts to increase serum vitamin D levels in a human intervention study. Vitamin D content of the complex was assessed by HPLC and VitaKit D(TM). Flavored beverages were formulated with 400 IU, 600 IU, and 1000 IU of vitamin D. Human subjects recruited from North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) participated in a blind randomized clinical trial designed to determine the bioavailability of vitamin D2 versus D3 at various levels. Subjects consumed 8 fl. oz of a vitamin D beta-lactoglobulin complex-fortified beverage at each trial (total 5 trials) and blood was drawn at baseline, 4, 8, 24 hours post-consumption. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D was measured by ELISA. Results show that aqueous sports drink solutions could be accurately formulated to contain vitamin D (400 IU, 600 IU, and 1000 IU) with palatability to humans. Serum vitamin D analysis demonstrated a significant difference (p<0.0001) in serum vitamin D levels by race. Moreover, there was an increase in blood serum levels for all participants from initial treatment to final treatment. Subjects did not respond differently to drinks containing vitamin D2 or D3.;In conclusion, water-soluble vitamin-D can be used to fortify aqueous products and consumption can help facilitate the uptake of vitamin into the blood. Regular consumption of flavored drinks fortified with vitamin D can significantly increase dietary vitamin D intake. |
