Comparison of the effects of Wild Nutrition Food‑Grown® vitamin D3 formulation with two conventional formulations on increasing plasma vitamin D levels in healthy participants: A 72‑h, randomised, parallel, comparator study

Vitamin D is a fat‑soluble hormone involved in numerous vital physiological functions. Despite the critical role of vitamin D, a large proportion of the population are deficient (<20 ng/ml) in this vitamin, with an estimated one billion individuals worldwide having low levels of vitamin D. The aim of the present study was to assess the short‑term absorption of a Food‑Grown® form of vitamin D3 compared to two conventional forms of vitamin D3 in healthy participants over a 72‑h period. A single dose, randomised study was performed to evaluate the absorption of three different vitamin D3 formulations (Food‑Grown® capsule, conventional tablet and conventional buccal spray). Following a single 125 µg (5,000 IU) dose, vitamin D absorption was determined from blood samples obtained prior to dosing, (t=0), followed by intervals of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h post‑supplementation. The primary outcome measure of the trial was the change in the plasma uptake of vitamin D over a 72‑h period with the resulting area under the curve (AUC), time to reach the maximum concentration (Tmax) and maximum change from baseline (Cmax) calculated. All three group demographics were equal at baseline. The Food‑Grown® vitamin D group exhibited a significant increase in total vitamin D absorption (AUC, 156.2±54.6 vs. 105.0±44.8) over the 72‑h period compared to the conventional tablet formulation. The Cmax and Tmaxdid not differ significantly between the groups. On the whole, these results indicate that a Food‑Grown® vitamin D formulation is superior to conventional vitamin D tablets and equivalent to a buccal spray.