Solar radiation, vitamin D and survival rate of colon cancer in Norway

Solar radiation contributes significantly to the status of serum calcidiol (25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 25-(OH)D3) in humans, even at the high latitudes of northern Norway. Thus, in late summer the serum concentration of calcidiol is roughly 50% larger than that in late winter, when the solar radiation in Norway contains too little ultraviolet radiation to induce any synthesis of vitamin D3 in human skin. This seems to influence the prognosis of colon cancer. We here report that the survival rate of colon cancer in men and women, assessed 18 months after diagnosis, is dependent on the season of diagnosis. A high serum concentration of calcidiol at the time of diagnosis, i.e. at the start of conventional therapy, seems to give an increased survival rate. This agrees with cell and animal experiments reported in the literature, as well as with epidemiological data from some countries relating colon cancer survival with latitude and vitamin D3 synthesis in skin. One possible interpretation of the present data is that, the level of calcidiol, or its derivative calcitriol (1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 1alpha,25-(OH)2D3), may act positively in concert with conventional therapies of colon cancer.     

Development and optimization of an LC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneous quantification of vitamin D2 , vitamin D3 , 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3

Simultaneous and accurate measurement of vitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in biological samples is a barrier limiting our ability to define "optimal" vitamin D status. Thus, our goal was to optimize conditions and evaluate an LC-MS method for simultaneous detection and quantification of vitamin D(2) , vitamin D(3) , 25-hydroxyvitamin D(2) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) in serum. Extraction and separation of vitamin D forms were achieved using acetone liquid-liquid extraction and by a reversed phase C8 column, respectively. Detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (QQQ-MS/MS) equipped with atmospheric pressure photo ionization source. The LOQs for all analytes tested were 1 ng/mL for hydroxylated molecules and 2 ng/mL for the parent vitamin Ds. RSD at lower LOQ (2 ng/mL) and in medium (80 ng/mL) and high (200 ng/mL) quality control samples did not exceed 20 and 15% CV, respectively. Accuracy of the method for determination of hydroxylated molecules was also validated using National Institutes of Standards and Technology standard samples and found to be in the range of 90.9-111.2%. In summary, a sensitive and reproducible method is reported for simultaneous quantification of vitamin D(2) , vitamin D(3) , 25-hydroxyvitamin D(2) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) molecules in biological samples.     

食品中维生素D与25-羟基维生素D检测技术及含量分布研究进展

维生素D是一种对于维持人体健康具有重要作用的脂溶性维生素,25-羟基维生素D是其在人体内循环和存储的主要形式。食品中维生素D和25-羟基维生素D前处理的通常采用碱皂化、有机溶剂提取、固相萃取或者半制备色谱净化;其测定方法多为放射免疫法和液相色谱法。液相色谱串联质谱凭借高灵敏度和高准确度,目前在食品中维生素D和25-羟基维生素D测定中发挥重要作用。近年来二维液相色谱和超高效超临界流体色谱由于其强大的分离能力,在食品中维生素D和25-羟基维生素D的分析中表现出强大的潜力。该文综述了近年来食品中维生素D和25-羟基维生素D的检测方法及二者在动物食品和植物食品中的含量分布研究,以期为建立适合不同食物样品的测定方法,指导居民合理膳食,进行膳食摄入量评估等研究工作提供参考。     

Vitamin D analysis in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with C(30) reversed phase column and UV detection--easy and acetonitrile-free

Two physiologically important forms of vitamin D exist: vitamin D₂ and vitamin D₃, which by liver based hydroxylase enzymes are converted to 25-hydroxyvitamin D₂ and 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃, respectively. These hydroxylated metabolites of vitamin D are measured in plasma to assess the vitamin D status of animals and humans. Therefore cheap and reliable analytical methods are very much in demand in nutritional and physiological research. After saponification and extraction of plasma or serum samples the current method uses reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography on a C₃₀ column and with UV detection at 265 nm for quantifying vitamin D₂, vitamin D₃, 25-hydroxyvitamin D₂, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃. The method proved versatile with respect to plasma lipid content, sample amount, and plasma concentration of the vitamin D metabolites as it was tested using plasma from six different species: cattle, pigs, poultry, mink, horses, and humans. In cattle plasma recoveries were between 86.6 and 101.0%, within day error between 0.9 and 5.9%, and between day error between 0.2 and 1.7%. However, depending on species and sample amount error percentages varied. When running the method on standard reference material^® 972 “Vitamin D in human serum” from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (Gaithersburg, USA) the results for 25-hydroxyvitamin D₂ and 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ concentrations were within the boundaries provided by NIST, reflected by Z-scores between 0.1 and 0.9.     

Application of 4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione to analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human plasma by liquid chromatography/electron capture atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry.

The utility of 4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (NPTAD) as a derivatization reagent in the analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] using liquid chromatography/electron capture atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (LC/ECAPCI-MS) was examined. The derivatives of 25(OH)D3 with NPTAD underwent electron capture in the APCI source in the negative-ion mode and provided 30-fold higher sensitivity compared to an intact compound. This derivatization-LC/ECAPCI-MS method was applied to a plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 assay, and gave satisfactory results in sensitivity, specificity, measurable range and throughput of the analysis.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法检测干血点样本中25-羟基维生素D2和25-羟基维生素D3

建立了一种高通量液相色谱-串联质谱技术检测干血点(DBS)样本中25-羟基维生素D2[25(OH)D2]和25-羟基维生素D3[25(OH)D3]的方法.以DBS为样本,以4-苯基-1,2,4-三唑啉-3,5-二酮(PTAD)为试剂进行分析物衍生化,所需样本量仅约相当于6μL全血当量的DBS样本;使用甲醇直接超声提取分析物,避开了通常情况下DBS样本前处理中的全血复溶和蛋白质沉淀等繁琐步骤;整个前处理过程使用自动化液体处理平台实现自动化操作和高检测通量;以25(OH)D2-D6和25(OH)D3-D3为同位素内标,消除基质效应的影响.前处理后的样本进行LC-MS/MS分析,使用C18柱进行分离,流动相为甲醇(含5 mmol/L甲酸铵)-水(含5 mmol/L甲酸铵)(75:25,V/V),洗脱时间为4 min,使用多反应监测模式(MRM)定量.结果表明:25(OH)D2和25(OH)D3的检出限为0.12 ng/mL(S/N=3),定量限为0.94 ng/mL(S/N=10).25(OH)D2和25(OH)D3在0.94~120.00 ng/mL范围内线性关系良好,日内相对标准偏差(RSD)分别为1.4%~8.6%和3.7%~15.5%,日间RSD分别为4.0%~5.3%和3.8%~14.9%,平均回收率分别为91.7%±7.9%~108.5%±6.5%和94.8%±6.8%~101.3%±2.9%.DBS样本在不同温度(-20℃,22℃,37℃)下储存不同时间(0,1,2,3,5,7,14天)后的稳定性实验显示样本总体RSD°15%.以25(OH)D参考物质NIST SRM 972a中的Level 3制备标准DBS样本,25(OH)D2和25(OH)D3的回收率分别为110.3%和103.0%.     

Study of blood collection and sample preparation for analysis of vitamin D and its metabolites by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

The analysis of vitamin D status, with special emphasis on 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, is gaining interest in clinical studies due to the classical and non-classical effects attributed to this prohormone. In this research, the influence of the two steps preceding determination (viz. sample collection and preparation) on the quantitative analysis of vitamin D and its more important metabolites has been studied. Two preparation approaches, deproteination and solid-phase extraction (SPE), have been evaluated in terms of sensitivity to delimit their application, thus establishing that detection of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D cannot be addressed by protein precipitation. Concerning sample collection, serum and plasma reported high accuracy (above 83.3%) for vitamin D and metabolites, while precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was below 12.9% for all analytes in both samples. Statistical analysis revealed that serum and plasma provided similar physiological levels for vitamin D₃, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃, while significantly different levels were obtained for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, always higher in plasma than in serum. Sample collection and treatment have proved to be significant in the analysis of vitamin D and its relevant metabolites.     

Analysis of vitamin D and its metabolites using thermospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A new method is described for the analysis of vitamin D and its metabolites utilizing thermospray (TSP) mass spectrometry as an on-line detector for high performance liquid chromatography. Ionization conditions were optimized for use with isocratic reversed phase chromatography. TSP mass spectrometry was employed in series with a UV absorbance detector to facilitate comparisons between the two methods of detection. Positive ion TSP mass spectra were recorded for vitamin D2, vitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25(OH)2D3). The spectra contained protonated molecular ions, ammonium adduct ions and fragment ions due to the loss of one or more molecules of water. A comparison of quantitative precision was made by determining UV absorbance and TSP standard curves for vitamin D3 using two different methods: (1) External standard method with post-column (post UV detector) addition of ammonium acetate. (2) As (1) but using the method of internal standards with a closely eluting internal standard (vitamin D2). In each case the quantitative precision (correlation coefficient) for UV absorbance detection was superior owing to intrinsic instability of the TSP ion beam. A stable isotopically labelled internal standard was employed in the development of an assay for 1,25(OH)2D3. The assay was used to quantify in vitro enzymic conversion of 25(OH)D3 to 1,25(OH)2D3 in guinea pig and sheep renal mitochondrial incubations. TSP LC/MS was also applied to analysis of an extract of human blood plasma in which D3 and each of its principal metabolites were identified in a single analysis.     

Solid phase extraction system for vitamin D and its major metabolites in human plasma

A new procedure using C18 and silica cartridges for the extraction and subsequent separation of vitamin D and its major metabolites from plasma has been developed and compared to a conventional extraction procedure with respect to lipophilic material extracted as evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatographic profiles. The C18 cartridges were efficient in extracting all compounds tested while subsequent chromatography of the extract on silica cartridges was effective in resolving vitamin D and its metabolites based on increasing polarity. High-performance liquid chromatographic profiles of each silica cartridge fraction clearly demonstrated that the newly conceived solid phase extraction was superior to conventional extraction methods with respect to cleanliness of sample fractions. This difference in lipophilic load between the new and conventional extraction systems was most apparent in the vitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D containing fractions. The new extraction system can be used when total extraction and subsequent analysis of vitamin D and its major metabolites is desired.     

Identification and determination of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in rat skin by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioreceptor assay

Endogenous 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] in normal rat skin was identified by using thermal isomerization to convert the metabolite into its pre-isomer, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and displacement potency with a chick intestinal cytosol receptor. When the metabolite in normal rat skin was determined by a radioreceptor assay after purification by Sep-Pak silica cartridge column chromatography and HPLC, the concentration was 71.0 +/- 6.6 pg/g of wet tissue (mean +/- S.D.). It is also shown that [3H]-1,25-(OH)2D3 and [3H]-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 administered intravenously in the mouse are located in the skin. These results suggest that the metabolite may play an important role in the skin.     

Sunbeds as Vitamin D Sources

The objectives of this work were: (1) To determine whether repeated exposures to small doses from a commercial sun bed (Wolff Solarium Super Plus 100 W) over 5 weeks gave less vitamin D than repeated exposures to twice as large, but still nonerythemogenic, doses. (2) To investigate whether the contribution to the vitamin D status from such sessions of exposures was dependent on the baseline status before the start of the sessions. (3) To determine the decay rate of the induced increment of vitamin D. The sun bed sessions raised the 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels from typical winter values to typical summer values. The mean value after exposure being 80 n m (±14) and the increase being 15 n m on average. Persons with the lowest initial levels got the largest increase. The level in this group was back to the pre-exposure level after 2–4 weeks. To maintain a summer level through the winter, when no vitamin D is produced by the sun in northern countries, one should consider increasing the recommended intake of vitamin D intake significantly, or encouraging the population to get moderate, nonerythemal sun bed exposures.     

Determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human serum by fluorescence labelling and high-performance liquid chromatography.

A method is described for the determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human blood serum. The problems of sensitivity and selectivity encountered with previous techniques were avoided by the formation of a highly fluorescent Diels-Alder adduct following solid-phase extraction of the vitamin. After excess of reagent had been eliminated, quantification was achieved by high-performance liquid chromatography. The recovery of the vitamin from serum was 76.4 +/- 1.76%. The precision of the method was determined, and the relative standard deviations were 8.38% at a concentration of 47.0 x 10(-9) mol dm-3, 6.74% at a concentration of 99.8 x 10(-9) mol dm-3 and 3.79% at a concentration of 146.8 x 10(-9) mol dm-3. The detection limit for the adduct was 2.93 x 10(-14) mol injected, for a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1, and serum concentrations of 0.25 x 10(-9) mol dm-3 could easily be quantified. No interference from endogenous or exogenous substances was observed.     

Association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3)levels in adult New Zealanders with ethnicity, skin color and self-reported skin sensitivity to sun exposure

The study aim was to determine the contribution of ethnicity, objectively measured skin color and skin reaction-to-sun exposure to variations in 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) [25(OH)D(3) ]. A multiethnic sample (European, Maori, Pacific and Asian) of 503 adult volunteers aged 18-85 years, recruited from Auckland and Dunedin in New Zealand, answered a questionnaire on sun exposure and self-defined ethnicity. Skin color was measured using a spectrophotometer and the Individual Typology Angle (ITA) calculated. A blood sample was collected 4 weeks later to measure 25(OH)D(3). 25(OH)D(3) was associated with ethnicity, but not self-reported skin reaction-to-sun exposure. Amongst the ethnic groups, Asians had the lowest mean 25(OH)D level (37.0 nmol L(-1)) and Europeans with lighter colored skin had the highest (57.9 nmol L(-1)). An association also was seen between 25(OH)D(3) and skin color, with an increase of 2-3 nmol L(-1) per 10° increase in ITA value, indicating higher 25(OH)D(3) with lighter skin color; but much of this association disappeared after adjusting for ethnicity. In contrast, ethnicity remained associated with 25(OH)D(3) after adjusting for ITA skin color and skin reaction-to-sun exposure. These results indicate that self-defined ethnicity was a major determinant of variations in serum 25(OH)D(3), while objective measures of skin color explained relatively little additional variation.     

A specific LC/ESI-MS/MS method for determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in neonatal dried blood spots containing a potential interfering metabolite, 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3

Vitamin D deficiency in an infant is associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes in later life. A method for the quantification of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D₃ [25(OH)D₃, the best‐established indicator of vitamin D status] in neonatal dried blood spots (DBSs) using LC/ESI‐MS/MS has been developed and validated. The method employed two steps of derivatization, a Diels–Alder reaction with 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione followed by acetylation, to enhance the detectability of 25(OH)D₃ in ESI‐MS/MS and to separate 25(OH)D₃ from 3‐epi‐25‐hydroxyvitamin D₃ [3‐epi‐25(OH)D₃], a potent interfering metabolite. 25(OH)D₃ was extracted from two DBS punches (3 mm in diameter, equivalent to 5.3 μL of whole blood), purified using an Oasis HLB^® cartridge, and subjected to derivatization prior to analysis with LC/ESI‐MS/MS. 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D₄ was used as the internal standard. This method was reproducible (intra‐ and inter‐assay RSDs, <6.9%) and accurate (analytical recovery, 95.2–102.7%), and the LOQ was 3.0 ng/mL. The developed method enabled specific quantification of 25(OH)D₃ in neonatal DBSs and detection of vitamin D deficiency without interference from 3‐epi‐25(OH)D₃.     

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Rosuvastatin-Treated Men with Mixed Dyslipidemia and Early-Onset Androgenic Alopecia

Men with early-onset androgenetic alopecia are characterized by hormonal profiles similar to those observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The purpose of this research was to investigate levels of cardiometabolic risk factors in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA)-treated men with early-onset androgenic alopecia. We studied two matched rosuvastatin-treated groups of men with mixed dyslipidemia: subjects with early-onset androgenic alopecia (group A) and subjects with normal hair growth (group B). Plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis markers, and levels of sex hormones, uric acid, hsCRP, homocysteine, fibrinogen, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured before entering the study and six months later. Both groups differed in insulin sensitivity and levels of calculated bioavailable testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, uric acid, hsCRP, fibrinogen, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Though observed in both study groups, treatment-induced reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, hsCRP, and fibrinogen were more pronounced in group B than group A. Moreover, only in group A did rosuvastatin deteriorate insulin sensitivity, and only in group B did the drug affect uric acid, homocysteine, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The impact of rosuvastatin on cardiometabolic risk factors correlated with insulin sensitivity, calculated bioavailable testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate. The obtained results suggest that men with early-onset androgenic alopecia may benefit to a lesser degree from rosuvastatin treatment than their peers.     

Metabolic profiling of major vitamin D metabolites using Diels–Alder derivatization and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Biologically active forms of vitamin D are important analytical targets in both research and clinical practice. The current technology is such that each of the vitamin D metabolites is usually analyzed by individual assay. However, current LC-MS technologies allow the simultaneous metabolic profiling of entire biochemical pathways. The impediment to the metabolic profiling of vitamin D metabolites is the low level of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ in human serum (15–60 pg/mL). Here, we demonstrate that liquid–liquid or solid-phase extraction of vitamin D metabolites in combination with Diels–Alder derivatization with the commercially available reagent 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) followed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)–electrospray/tandem mass spectrometry analysis provides rapid and simultaneous quantification of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂, 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ and 25-hydroxyvitamin D₂ in 0.5 mL human serum at a lower limit of quantification of 25 pg/mL. Precision ranged from 1.6–4.8 % and 5–16 % for 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, respectively, using solid-phase extraction. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Vitamin D Level in Summer and Winter Related to Measured UVR Exposure and Behavior

The influence of the summer UVR exposure on serum-25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in late summer and winter was investigated in an open study on 25 healthy, adult volunteers. The UVR exposure dose in standard erythema dose (SED) was monitored continuously during a summer season with personal, electronic wristwatch UVR dosimeters and sun exposure diaries. Constitutive and facultative skin pigmentation was measured in September. 25(OH)D was measured in September and February and was in mean 82 nmol/L ± 25 (mean ± SD) in September and 56 nmol/L ± 19 (mean ± SD) in February. The received cumulative UVR dose measured during a mean of 121 days was 156 SED ± 159 (mean ± SD). The following UVR exposure parameters correlated with 25(OH)D in September and February, respectively: (1) The cumulative UVR dose ( r  = 0.53; P  < 0.01) and ( r  = 0.43; P  = 0.03); (2) Mean daily hours with UVR measurements monitored by the dosimeter ( r  = 0.64, P  = 0.001) and ( r  = 0.53; P  = 0.007); (3) Days "with sun-exposed upper body" ( r  = 0.58, P  = 0.003) and ( r  = 0.50; P  = 0.01); (4) Facultative pigmentation ( r  = 0.47; P  < 0.02) and ( r  = 0.7; P  < 0.001); (5) Constitutive pigmentation ( r  = 0.06, n.s.) and ( r  = 0.43, P  = 0.03). Neither days "sunbathing" nor days with "sunscreen applied" correlated with 25(OH)D. The fall in 25(OH)D during winter was dependent on the entry value.     

Identification and determination of fat-soluble vitamins and metabolites in human serum by liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring

A method for determination of fat-soluble vitamins K(1), K(3), A, D(2), D(3) and E (as alpha- and delta-tocopherol) and metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D(2) and D(3) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) in human serum by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) in positive mode is proposed. Highly selective identification of the target compounds in serum was confirmed by the most representative transitions from precursor ion to product ion. Quantitative MS/MS analysis was carried out by multiple reaction monitoring optimizing the most sensitive transition for each analyte in order to achieve low detection limits (from 0.012 to 0.3 ng/mL estimated with serum). The analysis was performed with 1 mL of serum, which was subjected to protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction to an organic phase, evaporation to dryness and reconstitution with methanol. The precision of the overall method ranged from 3.17-6.76% as intra-day variability and from 5.07-11.53% as inter-day variability. The method, validated by the standard addition method, provides complete information on the fat-soluble vitamins profile, which is of interest in clinical and metabolomics studies.     

Sunbed radiation provokes cutaneous vitamin D synthesis in humans--a randomized controlled trial

We wanted to investigate whether the use of sunbeds with sunlamps emitting mainly UVA and only 0.5% or 1.4% UVB will increase the level of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). In a randomized, controlled, open study on healthy, Caucasian females (> 50 years) sunbed radiation was given as follows: four 6-min sunbed sessions (days 0, 2, 4 and 7) and four 12-min sunbed sessions (days 9, 11, 14 and 16 ) with sunlamps emitting 0.5% UVB (n = 20) or with sunlamps emitting 1.4% UVB (n = 15). The controls (n = 21) had no intervention. Serum levels of 25(OH)D were measured on days 0, 9 and 18 in all three groups. The average increase in serum 25(OH)D from day 0 to day 9 was 12 nmol L(-1) (SD 11 nmol L(-1), P = 0.0002) in the 0.5% UVB group and 27 nmol L(-1) (SD 9 nmol L(-1), P < 0.0001) in the 1.4% UVB group. From day 9 to day 18 a further but not significant increase in serum 25(OH)D of 3 nmol L(-1) (SD 9 nmol L(-1), P = 0.2) in the 0.5% UVB group and 0.6 nmol L(-1) (SD 18 nmol L(-1), P = 0.9) in the 1.4% UVB group was seen. No significant changes were found in the control group. Increasing with UVB dose and exposure time, 37-64% of the sunbed sessions resulted in side effects such as erythema or polymorphic light eruption. The results showed that sunbeds emitting 0.5% and 1.4% UVB increased 25(OH)D serum levels. The increases were dose dependent but reached a plateau after few sessions. Sunbed use as vitamin D source is, however, not generally recommendable due to the well-known carcinogenicity and high frequency of acute side effects.     

Novel synthesis of 1α,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D from 25-hydroxyvitamin D

19-Norvitamin D analogs 3a and 3b were synthesized from 25-hydroxyvitamin D, obtained via a bioconversion method. The synthetic route features a highly regio- and stereoselective hydroboration reaction to afford 25-hydroxy-3,5-cyclopropyl-vitamin D derivatives 12 having olefin at the C1-10-position.