Vitamin D Supplementation in Laboratory-Bred Mice: An In Vivo Assay on Gut Microbiome and Body Weight

Abstract

Saudi Arabia is in a tropical geographical region with a population that has access to adequate diet. There is, however, a high level of vitamin D deficiency in the Kingdom, comorbid with other disease. There is the postulation of a correlation between a healthy gut microbiota and balanced levels of serum vitamin D. This investigation looks into the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the gut flora of laboratory-bred mice as well as any possible association on body weight. BALB/C mice weighing between 34 and 35.8 g were divided into 4 groups and placed on daily doses of vitamin D of 3.75 µg (low dose), 7.5 µg (normal dose), and 15 µg (high dose). The fourth group was the control group that did not receive any supplementation with vitamin D. Body weights were monitored on weekly basis, while faecal samples from the rectum were obtained for microbial culturing and the monitoring of bacterial colony count using the Vitek 2 Compact automated system (BioMerieux, Marcy-l’Etoile, France) according to manufacturer’s guidelines. The data presented as mean ± SD, while significant differences were determined with 2-way analysis of variance in comparing differences within and between treatment groups. The different doses of vitamin D showed varying effects on the body weight and gut microbial colonies of the mice. There was a highly significant difference between the control, 15 µg (high), and 7.5 µg (normal) dose groups. This is suggestive that supplementation with vitamin D could a role in the gut microbial flora in the gut which could reflect in changes in body weight.

Vitamin D is Glucoprotective in Aging Males but Not Females

“…The animals were further stratified to three different dietary vitamin D intakes (within the chow background): low (100 IU/kg diet), normal (1000 IU/kg diet), and high (5000 IU/kg diet). The doses of vitamin D were based on literature review of mouse models utilizing various vitamin D concentrations to achieve dose-dependent physiologic changes in vitamin D but prevent hypo/hypercalcemia from occurring [32][33][34][35]. The vitamin D doses were also chosen to mimic standard treatment doses in humans for vitamin D deficiency without causing vitamin D toxicity.…”

Microbiome Studies from Saudi Arabia over the Last 10 Years: Achievements, Gaps, and Future Directions

“…Badger-Emeka et al reported that different doses of vitamin D can influence the body weight and gut microbial colonies in mice. The authors found decreased gut Salmonella/Shigella and E. coli colonies under low- and normal-dose vitamin D. However, P. aeruginosa was significantly decreased under high vitamin D doses [ 88 ].…”