Vitamin D status in primates in captivity
Citation
Brenes-Soto A, van Noije R, Kaandorp C, and Janssens GPJ. 2019. Vitamin D status in primates in captivity. In Brooks M, Freel T, Koutsos E Eds. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Saint Louis, MO.
Abstract
Vitamin D is a liposoluble vitamin available in two forms: D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). It plays an important role in calcium absorption and homeostasis. Human as well as non-human primates from Old World (OW) can metabolize both vitamin D2 and D3, whereas New World (NW) primates cannot metabolize D2 well. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) are regulated through dietary vitamin D intake as well as endogenous synthesis from UV-light. The latter may be compromised under low exposure to sunlight, which is affected by skin pigmentation depending of the UV index available in the region. Vitamin D deficiency may occur due to several factors. The main reason is low exposure to UV-light, but it may also be influenced by other aspects such as geographic location, fur cover and skin pigmentation. Apart from calcium regulation, several diseases are also associated with the lack of this vitamin, such as alterations of dopamine metabolism, neoplasm, risk of diabetes and decrease of immune response.
Brenes-Soto.pdf 33 KB
