Bioavailability and Safety of Vitamin D3 from Pizza Baked with Fortified Mozzarella Cheese: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the bioavailability and safety of vitamin D3 from fortified mozzarella cheese baked on pizza.


METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind trial, 96 apparently healthy, ethnically diverse adults were randomized to consume 200 IU or 28 000 IU vitamin D3 fortified mozzarella cheese with pizza once weekly for a total of 8 weeks. Blood and urine samples were collected at baseline (week 1) and final (week 10) visits for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and other biochemical measures. The primary outcome compared serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D between groups at 10 weeks. The secondary outcome evaluated the safety of vitamin D dosing protocol as measured by serum and urine calcium, phosphate, creatinine, and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH).


RESULTS
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased by 5.1 ± 11 nmol/L in the low-dose group (n = 47; P = 0.003), and by 73 ± 22 nmol/L in the high-dose group (n = 49; P < 0.0001). None of the subjects in either group developed any adverse events during the supplementation protocol. Serum PTH significantly decreased in the high-dose group only (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D3 is safe and bioavailable from fortified mozzarella cheese baked on pizza.
a Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Banaz
B
Al-Khalidi
b Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, George Brown College, Toronto, ON.
Winnie
W
Chiu
c Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON.
Dérick
D
Rousseau
a Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.|d Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON.
Reinhold
R
Vieth
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002170:Canada; D002611:Cheese / Q000032:analysis*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D014807:Vitamin D; D002762:Cholecalciferol; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D003404:Creatinine; D002118:Calcium