Tolerance evaluation of overdosed dietary levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in growing piglets.

Forty-eight, cross-bred (GL × LW × P) piglets were used in a 42-day tolerance trial to assess the effects of feeding diets supplemented with vitamin D or increasing levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3 ). Six-week-old piglets (24 castrate males, 24 females) were used. Two replicate groups of 6 piglets were randomized by weight and allocated to four dietary treatments. The control group (T1) was supplemented with 50 µg vitamin D3 /kg feed. The experimental groups received 25-OH-D3 at the recommended dose (T2: 50 µg/kg = 1x), at 250 µg/kg (T3: 5x) or at 500 µg/kg (T4: 10x) respectively. Feed intake and daily weight gain were measured weekly, and the animals were examined by a veterinarian daily. After 42 days, body mass, blood, urine, bone and tissue samples were analysed and a pathology examination conducted. Dietary treatments had no significant effect on final body mass or daily weight gain. The 25-OH-D3 plasma concentration in T1 was 17 ± 3 ng/ml (mean ± SD) while the respective values of the experimental groups were significantly increased in T2, T3 and T4. Tissue concentrations of 25-OH-D3 were higher in liver and muscle for T3 and T4 and in skin for T4 than in T1. However, neither gross pathology nor histology, nor blood and urine characteristics, nor bone parameters were affected by dietary treatments. Weight of organs as well as dry matter, ash and calcium content of kidneys remained unaffected by dietary 25-OH-D3 intake. Furthermore, no changes were observed for general indicators of health. The results of this study demonstrated that feeding piglets with 25-OH-D3 at 5 or 10 times the recommended level had no adverse effects on any of the biological parameters measured. It was concluded that 25-OH-D3 can be regarded as a supplement with a very high safety margin when used at the recommended level.

Lanthanum salts improve bone formation in a small animal model of post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Two different lanthanum salts, lanthanum carbonate (LaCO(3)) and Lancer(®), a lanthanide citrate mixture, were tested for their effects on bone metabolism in a small animal model for post-menopausal osteoporosis. Forty female outbred Wistar Han rats, sham-operated (SHAM, positive control, n = 10) or ovariectomized (OVX, n = 30) at 4 months of age, were allotted into following groups (n = 10/group): (i) SHAM, (ii) OVX control (negative control), (iii) OVX + LaCO(3) (1.74 g/kg feed) and (iv) OVX + Lancer(®) (8 g/kg feed). Effects on bone were investigated by bone markers [osteocalcin (Oc) in serum and excretion of pyridinoline (PYD) in urine] and by physical parameters of bone structure and bone composition (bone mass, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium content in bone crude ash). Bone micro-architecture and bone mineral density were evaluated by peripheral quantitative computed tomography and micro-computed tomography (µCT). The animal model could be validated by differences between OVX control and SHAM. Body mass and feed intake were the same among the four groups. Oc was clearly increased in the two experimental groups (p < 0.001) vs. SHAM and OVX control. Bone mass and calcium content in bone ash were significantly higher than in OVX control. The Ca/P ratio in bone ash of the two lanthanide groups did not differ from SHAM. Bone-protecting effects of lanthanides were clearly demonstrated by an increased trabecular density which is the region of interest for osteoporotic bone loss. A 3D imaging of bone micro-architecture by µCT visualized descriptively the positive effects of lanthanides on bone formation. The results of this study demonstrate an improvement of bone formation and bone-protecting effects of lanthanides in the OVX rat. Thus, lanthanum salts suggest a prevention of post-menopausal bone loss and may be of benefit in experimental osteopenia following ovariectomy.