Bioavailability of vitamin D2 from UV-B-irradiated button mushrooms in healthy adults deficient in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Mushrooms contain very little or any vitamin D 2 but are abundant in ergosterol, which can be converted into vitamin D 2 by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Our objective was to investigate the bioavailability of vitamin D 2 from vitamin D 2 -enhanced mushrooms by UV-B in humans, and comparing it with a vitamin D 2 supplement. Subjects/Methods: Fresh mushrooms were irradiated with an UV-B dose of 1.5 J/cm 2 , increasing vitamin D 2 content from o1 to 491 mg/100 g and made to an experimental soup. In this 5-week, single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 26 young subjects with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) p50 nmol/l were randomly assigned into three groups ((a) mushroom, (b) supplement and (c) placebo). They received during winter (a) 28 000 IU (700 mg) vitamin D 2 via the experimental soup, or (b) 28 000 IU vitamin D 2 via a supplement or (c) placebo, respectively. Results: After 2 weeks, serum 25OHD was significantly higher in the mushroom than in the placebo group (P ¼ 0.001). The serum 25OHD concentrations in the mushroom and supplement groups rose significantly and similarly over the study period by 3.9 nmol/l (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.9, 4.8) and by 4.7 nmol/l per week (95% CI: 3.8, 5.7), respectively. Conclusions: We are the first to demonstrate in humans that the bioavailability of vitamin D 2 from vitamin D 2 -enhanced button mushrooms via UV-B irradiation was effective in improving vitamin D status and not different to a vitamin D 2 supplement. This trial was registered at http://germanctr.de as DRKS00000195.

Impact on Vitamin D2, Vitamin D4 and Agaritine in Agaricus bisporus Mushrooms after Artificial and Natural Solar UV Light Exposure

“…These levels are more than 58 times the current Dietary Reference Intake (600 IU, or 15 μg) [24]. Similarly high vitamin D 2 yields with artificial UV-B exposure in button mushrooms are cited in studies using UV-B doses between 1.5 and 1.8 J/cm 2 and reporting vitamin D 2 contents of 55-60 μg/g DW [2,25]. It is noteworthy that we used mushroom slices with a larger surface area for irradiation; this may be why the vitamin D 2 contents are so much higher than those in other reports on button mushrooms using UV-B tubes [6,16,26,27].…”

“…In 2011, we published the first report demonstrating the efficient and safe consumption of artificially UV-irradiated vitamin D 2 -enriched Agaricus bisporus (white button mushrooms) in vitamin D-deficient humans [2]. A review of the safety assessment and a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials confirmed that UV light-exposed mushrooms are safe and able to improve the vitamin D status in adults presenting low baseline status [3,4].…”

The role of edible mushrooms in health: Evaluation of the evidence

“…The results indicated that in mice, vitamin D2 and/or calcium derived from irradiated L. edodes may improve bone mineralization directly and by inducing the expression of calcium-absorbing genes in the duodenum and kidney (Lee et al, 2009a). A recent randomized controlled trial has also demonstrated that the bioavailability of vitamin D2 from vitamin D2-enhanced mushrooms via UV-B irradiation improved vitamin D status in humans to a level similar to that of a vitamin D2 supplement (Urbain, Singler, Ihorst, Biesalski, & Bertz, 2011). It has been suggested that the mechanisms for these effects is an increase in the alkaline phosphatase activity of osteoblasts.…”

Vitamin D Deficiency among Arab Community in North Israel: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Vitamin D2 is produced by the action of UV-B-irradiation on ergosterol, a 5,7-diene phytosterol, which is synthesized by fungi and phytoplankton but not in the animal kingdom [4]. It is the major form of dietary vitamin D in humans [5] and its bioavailability from UV-B-irradiated and vitamin D boosted mushrooms, revealing a new promising approach of improving the vitamin D maintenance in the general population [6,7]. Vitamin D3 is produced with peak synthesis occurring between 295 and 297 nanometers [8] and this is the form that goes to work by attaching itself to vitamin D receptors present throughout the body.…”