New forms of vitamin D for animal and human health from plant origin

In modern animal meat production, undersupply of vitamin D results in skeletal problems because, and especially in poultry rearing, bone growth does not keep up with overall growth. However, Vitamin D itself does not possess biological activity but is transformed in 2 hydroxylation steps in the liver and kidney, respectively, into the active form 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃) which activates a gene inducing the synthesis of calbindin, the calcium binding protein responsible for the uptake of calcium from nutrition. Without the active metabolite 1,25(OH)₂D₃ no calcium can be absorbed, even if there is enough calcium contained in the diet.

Direct application of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ has been found to be the most active agent to prevent leg weaknesses and lameness in growing broiler chickens, in particular in modern breeds. A report of the scientific committee of the European Commission confirmed 1,25(OH)₂D₃ as the most effective agent in the prevention of tibial dyschondroplasia. Because synthetic 1,25(OH)₂D₃ is expensive and not available for animal nutrition, an alternative has been found in the plant Solanum glaucophyllum which contains the active form of Vitamin D₃ in glycosidically bound form.

In order to exploit this plant as a source of active vitamin D, a unique standardized and formulated herbal product for animal nutrition containing 1,25(OH)₂D₃-glycosides as active components was developed. This affords better pharmacokinetic properties and turns the product into a slow release form with little danger of overdosing.

Fig. 1: Difference in plasma concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ after a single dose of free 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and a herbal extract of Solanum glaucophyllum after a single application in rats.

Reference:

[1] EUROPEAN COMMISSION, the Welfare of Chickens Kept for Meat Production (Broilers), Report of the Scientifc Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare, page 33, adopted 21 March 2000, SANCO.B.3/AH/R15/2000