J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Aug 3:dgab573. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab573. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine whether correcting vitamin D deficiency with cholecalciferol (vitamin D3, D3) or calcifediol (25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 25(OH)D3) changes gut microbiome composition.
METHODS: 18 adults with vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] <20 ng/ml) received 60 mcg/day of D3 or 20 mcg/day of 25(OH)D3 for 8 weeks. Changes in serum 25(OH)D, 1,25-diydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25(OH)2D) were assessed. We characterized composition of the fecal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and examined changes in α-diversity (Chao 1, Faith’s Phylogenetic Diversity, Shannon Index), β-diversity (DEICODE), and genus-level abundances (DESeq2).
RESULTS: Vitamin D3 and 25(OH)D3 groups were similar. After 8 weeks of vitamin D3, mean 25(OH)D and 24,25(OH)2D increased significantly, but 1,25(OH)2D did not (25(OH)D: 17.8 to 30.1 ng/ml [p=0.002]; 24,25(OH)2D: 1.1 to 2.7 ng/ml [p=0.003]; 1,25(OH)2D: 49.5 to 53.0 pg/ml [p=0.9]). After 8 weeks of 25(OH)D3, mean 25(OH)D, 24,25(OH)2D, and 1,25(OH)2D increased significantly (25(OH)D: 16.7 to 50.6 ng/ml [p<0.0001]; 24,25(OH)2D: 1.3 to 6.2 ng/ml [p=0.0001]; 1,25(OH)2D: 56.5 to 74.2 pg/ml [p=0.05]). Fecal microbial α-diversity and β-diversity did not change with D3 or 25D3 supplementation. Mean relative abundance of Firmicutes increased and mean relative abundance of Bacterioidetes decreased from baseline to four weeks, but returned to baseline by study completion. DESeq2 analysis did not confirm any statistically significant taxonomic changes.
MAIN CONCLUSIONS: In a small sample of healthy adults with vitamin D deficiency, restoration of vitamin D sufficiency with vitamin D3 or 25(OH)D3 did not lead to lasting changes in the fecal microbiota.
PMID:34343292 | DOI:10.1210/clinem/dgab573