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. 2012 Jan 18;413(1-2):203-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2011.09.028. Epub 2011 Sep 29.

3-epi-25 hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are not correlated with age in a cohort of infants and adults

Frederick G Strathmann  1 , Katerina Sadilkova, Thomas J Laha, Susan E LeSourd, Joshua A Bornhorst, Andrew N Hoofnagle, Rhona Jack
Affiliations

3-epi-25 hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are not correlated with age in a cohort of infants and adults

Frederick G Strathmann et al. Clin Chim Acta. .

Abstract

Background: The implementation of mass spectrometry to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations has led to concerns regarding the measurement and reporting of the C3-epimer of 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) [3-epi-25(OH)D(3)], for which there is a near-total lack of data regarding its clinical significance.

Methods: We developed a chromatographic method to resolve (>90%) 3-epi-25(OH)D(3) from 25(OH)D(3) using a pentafluorophenyl propyl chromatographic column. Using LC-MS/MS, we determined the serum concentrations of 25(OH)D(3) and 3-epi-25(OH)D(3) in 626 patients aged 3 days to 94 years undergoing routine vitamin D testing.

Results: Comparison between DiaSorin RIA and the new LC-MS/MS method for total 25(OH)D had acceptable agreement. Our data indicate an increase in 25(OH)D(3) rather than a reduction in epimer concentration. An average of 3.3 ng/ml of 3-epi-25(OH)D(3) was detected in adolescents and adults. Inclusion of 3-epi-25(OH)D(3) in the total 25(OH)D(3) concentration resulted in 9% (<1 year) and 3% (1 to 94 years) potential misclassification of patients as vitamin D sufficient.

Conclusions: The new LC-MS/MS method is capable of chromatographically separating 25(OH)D(3) and 3-epi-25(OH)D(3). It was used to confirm that the contribution of 3-epi-25OHD(3) to total 25OHD(3) concentrations decreases with age in infants and is detectable in adults.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Distribution of 25(OH)D forms across age groups for 125 infants ranging from birth to 12 months and 624 patients ranging from 1–94 y
(Top) In the infant population, no statistically significant trend was present for 3-epi-25(OH)D3; however, a significant negative trend for % 3-epi-25(OH)D3 (τ = −0.28, p < 0.001) and a significant positive trend for 25(OH)D3 (τ = −0.27, p = 0.003) were observed. (Bottom) For patients aged 1–94 y, no statistically significant trend was present for corrected 25(OH)D3; however, a significant negative trend was observed for 3-epi-25(OH)D3 (τ = −0.20, p < 0.001) and % 3-epi-25(OH)D3 (τ = −0.27, p < 0.001). Units for 25(OH)D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 are nmol/l.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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