Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jan 4:103:skaf184.
doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf184.

Relative bioavailability of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol vs. cholecalciferol and vitamin D3 requirements in White Pekin ducks from 15 to 42 d of age

Lei Zhuang  1 , Yating Li  1 , Yongyan Jin  1 , Li Chen  2 , Kexin Gao  1 , Shuaiqin Wang  1 , Jindang Cao  3 , Mingkai Wang  3 , Zhengkui Zhou  1 , Ming Xie  1 , Shuisheng Hou  1 , Jing Tang  1
Affiliations

Relative bioavailability of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol vs. cholecalciferol and vitamin D3 requirements in White Pekin ducks from 15 to 42 d of age

Lei Zhuang et al. J Anim Sci. .

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effects of varying levels of vitamin D3 (VD3) or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) supplementary in the diet on growth performance, VD3 status, plasma calcium (Ca) levels, and tibial mineralization in growing male White Pekin ducks, and to determine the dietary requirements and relative bioavailability (RBA) of these 2 compounds. The overall total of 728 male White Pekin ducks (15 d old) were allocated to 13 experimental groups, with 6 different VD3 supplementation levels (100, 200, 400, 800, 1,200, and 2,000 IU/kg), and 2 vitamin D3 sources (VD3 and 25-OH-D3), alongside a negative control group without vitamin D3 supplementation. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA (2 × 6 factorial, excluding control) and 1-way ANOVA for cholecalciferol vs 25-hydroxycholecalciferol comparisons. Polynomial contrasts evaluated dose responses, with paired t-tests comparing sources at each level. Vitamin D3 requirements were estimated using quadratic broken-line model. RBA values (25-OH-D3 vs cholecalciferol) were determined via slope-ratio regression (using feed-adjusted vitamin D3 intake as independent variable). Ducks fed the basal diet had significantly lower body weight, average daily weight gain (ADG), plasma 25-OH-D3, calcium levels, and tibial mineralization (P < 0.05); however, all these parameters improved linearly or quadratically (P < 0.05) with increased VD3 or 25-OH-D3 levels in the diet. Plasma Ca, tibial weight, strength, density, mineral, and ash were higher (P < 0.05) in the 25-OH-D3 group in contrast with the VD3 group at 100 IU/kg, with higher plasma 25-OH-D3 concentrations when given 400, 800, 1,200, or 2,000 IU/kg (P < 0.05). Therefore, 25-OH-D3 was more efficient than VD3 in promoting Ca absorption and tibial mineralization. The optimal VD3 and 25-OH-D3 requirements of growing male Pekin ducks for growth and tibial development were 698 IU/kg and 352 IU/kg, respectively. The RBA of 25-OH-D3 compared to VD3 was 188%, based on slope-ratio comparisons from multiple linear regressions of plasma 25-OH-D3 concentration.

Keywords: 25-hydroxycholecalciferol; duck; relative bioavailability; requirement; vitamin D3.

Plain language summary

Vitamin D3 (VD3) is essential for calcium and phosphorus absorption and bone development. However, endogenous synthesis of VD3 in poultry is insufficient to meet growth requirements, necessitating dietary supplementation. NRC (1994) recommended VD3 requirements for both starter and growing White Pekin ducks were 400 IU/kg. With the increasing growth rate of meat ducks, NRC recommendations may be inadequate for the growth of modern meat ducks. Our previous results have shown VD3 requirements for starter male White Pekin ducks were 233 to 633 IU/kg, but the requirements for growing Pekin ducks remain unclear. 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) is the main circulating form of VD3 in the blood, is more readily utilized than VD3. However, its bioavailability in growing Pekin ducks remains unexamined. This study aimed to determine VD3 and 25-OH-D3 requirements in growing male White Pekin ducks and relative bioavailability of these 2 compounds. The results showed that VD3 and 25-OH-D3 requirements for growing Pekin ducks were 698 IU/kg and 352 IU/kg, respectively. The relative bioavailability of 25-OH-D3 compared to VD3 was 188%, based on slope-ratio comparisons from multiple linear regressions of plasma 25-OH-D3 concentrations.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Adekunle, F. O. 2021. A binary logistic regression model for prediction of feed conversion ratio of Clarias gariepinus from feed composition data. Mar. Sci. Technol. Bull. 10:134–141. doi: https://doi.org/ 10.33714/masteb.744882 - DOI
    1. Alshahrani, F., and Aljohani N... 2013. Vitamin D: deficiency, sufficiency and toxicity. Nutrients. 5:3605–3616. doi: https://doi.org/ 10.3390/nu5093605 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Atencio, A., Pesti G. M., and Edwards Jr H. M... 2005. Twenty-five hydroxycholecalciferol as a cholecalciferol substitute in broiler breeder hen diets and its effect on the performance and general health of the progeny. Poult. Sci. 84:1277–1285. doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1093/ps/84.8.1277 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Atencio, A., Edwards Jr H. M., Pesti G. M., and Ware G. O... 2006. The vitamin D3 requirement of broiler breeders. Poult. Sci. 85:674–692. doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1093/ps/85.4.674 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bassi, L. S., Moreno F. A., Martins C. C., Sens R. F., Lozano-Poveda, C. A., and Maiorka A... 2024. Effect of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation with different dietary available phosphorus levels for broilers. Br. Poult. Sci. 65:71–78. doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00071668.2023.2278474 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources