Influence of food matrix delivery system on the bioavailability of vitamin D3: A randomized crossover trial in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D insufficiency (blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D METHODS: In this randomized, multiple crossover trial, we enrolled 30 postmenopausal women 60 to 80 y of age with vitamin D insufficiency. We measured changes in serum concentrations of vitamin D3 (D3) postprandially for 24 h in response to the intake of 500 mL of different food matrices with 200 µg D3 added compared with a control (500 mL of water). Foods included apple juice with whey protein isolate (WPI), apple juice, semi-skim milk, and water (with D3). The food matrices were provided in a randomized order with ≥10-d washout period between them. On each intervention day, blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 24 h.RESULTS: D3 with WPI in juice did not enhance area under the curve (AUC) of serum D3 compared with juice without WPI (370 nmol × 24 h/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], 321-419 versus 357 nmol × 24 h/L; 95% CI, 308-406 nmol × 24 h/L; P = 0.65). However, compared with juice, the AUC was significantly higher in response to the intake of D3 in milk (452 nmol × 24 h/L; 95% CI, 402-502 nmol × 24 h/L) and water with D3 (479 nmol × 24 h/L; 95% CI, 430-527 nmol × 24 h/L; P < 0.05). No difference was observed between milk and water (P = 0.34).CONCLUSIONS: The bioavailability of D3 was superior in milk and water compared with juice, regardless of whether WPI was added.