Probiotic increases absorption and bioavailability of Vit D

By Nikki Hancocks

- Last updated on GMT

Getty | allenkayaa
Getty | allenkayaa

Related tags Vitamin d Probiotic Gut health

The probiotic L. paracasei DG can increase the absorption and bioavailability of Vitamin D, according to new research in mice.

The pre-clinical study, published in 'Annals of Microbiology​'​, pinpoints the strain L. paracasei DG.​ as significantly increasing serum levels of 25(OH) D when supplemented simultaneously with vitamin D.

"We started from the assumption that Vitamin D is fat-soluble and given that lactic bacteria can have biosurfactant properties, ie contribute to the emulsion," e​xplains Simone Guglielmetti, Professor of Microbiology at the Department of Food, Nutrition and Environmental Sciences at the University of Milan and co-author of the study. "We tested in vitro six bacterial strains belonging to the Lactobacillaceae family to see if they could improve the bioavailability of Vitamin D​."

Six probiotic strains were screened for their ability to create a stable suspension of vit D3 in water: Lacticaseibacillus paracasei​ DG, L. paracasei​ LPC-S01, L. paracasei​ Shirota, L. rhamnosus​ GG, Limosilactobacillus reuteri​ DSM 17938, and Lactobacillus acidophilus​ LA5.

The Lacticaseibacillus paracasei​ DG strain displayed the strongest vitD3 solubilisation ability. 

The authors then conducted an in vivo study to test this further. Different groups of mice were administered Vitamin D suspended in oil, either alone or mixed with L. paracasei DG, for a single dose or for a week.

"The specific properties of L. paracasei DG could be determined by the significant presence of an exopolysaccharide with a superior emulsifying capacity, which is produced solely by this probiotic,"​ comments Guglielmetti.

The results suggest that the combined administration of L. paracasei​ DG with cholecalciferol may contribute to the maintenance of adequate serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the population groups at risk of vitamin D deficiency.

"We are witnessing an epidemic deficiency Vitamin D especially in the Western world, an underdiagnosed deficiency that can be the basis for the development of a wide range of problems, the first of which is a greater susceptibility to infections, including viral ones.

"In addition, numerous subgroups are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, for example including pregnant women, people with increased skin melanin pigmentation, obese children and adults, and persons with abstinence from direct sun exposure​.

"If the conclusions of the human study were equally positive, in the future for the first time we could recommend a specific bacterium, not just any probiotic, to be associated with Vitamin D.

"A probiotic such as L. paracasei DG, which in addition to increasing the bioavailability of Vitamin D also brings benefits to the intestine and therefore could reduce the possible adverse effects of Vitamin D, especially for those categories that need constant vitamin supplementation,"​ concludes Guglielmetti.

"Co-administration of vitamin D3 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei DG increase 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels in mice"

Source: Annals of Microbiology

Castagliuolo, I., Scarpa, M., Brun, P. et al. 

"Co-administration of vitamin D3 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei​ DG increase 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels in mice" 

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13213-021-01655-3

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