Comparison of vitamin D metabolites in wild and captive baboons

Abstract

Vitamin D adequacy is essential for multiple physiologic processes. With limited exposure to sunlight for vitamin D3 synthesis, captive primates are supplemented with vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D metabolite data from wild primates living indigenously could suggest optimum levels. The purpose of this study was to: 1) to explore whether baboons, a speciose genus whose members have significant exposed skin, coat color variation and wide geographical distribution, mirrors the skin pigmentation-vitamin D relationship found in humans; 2) compare vitamin D metabolite levels in wild and captive members of the same or similar baboon species; and 3) apply a recently developed method currently used in humans for measuring multiple vitamin D metabolites as a panel to explore if/how these metabolites can inform us on vitamin D sufficiency. Serum samples from males of three baboon species in the wild: Papio anubis (olive baboon, dark exposed skin), P. cynocephalus (yellow baboon, brown exposed skin), and P. hamadryas (hamadryas baboon, pink exposed skin), were compared with vitamin D supplemented captive olive baboons with sun exposure. Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) measured vitamin D and its main metabolites. Cholecalciferol, 25hydroxyvitamin D2&3(25(OH)D2&3), and 24,25 dihydroxyvitamin D2&3 (24,25(OH)2D2&3), showed significant differences by species. The levels of cholecalciferol due to supplements in the captiveolive baboons did not convert to higher 25(OH)D3 while the wild olive baboons exhibited the lowest levels for both cholecalciferol and 25(OH)D3. Further metabolic conversion of 25(OH)D3 to 24,25(OH)2D3 indicated that all baboons had more similar conversion ratios and these were within the same range found for humans that are depicted as having adequate vitamin D levels. This study provided evidence that exposed skin color does influence vitamin D3 levels, with lower levels in darker skinned species, but these differences are eliminated in the downstream metabolite conversion indicating strong regulatory control.

Vitamin D: Dosing, levels, form, and route of administration: Does one approach fit all?

“…However, it is appropriate to recognize that small concentrations of 25(OH)D2 are present in human population studies [ 158 ]. These small concentrations may reflect food sources, as comparable levels are observed in free ranging baboons [ 159 ]. Additionally, much higher 25(OH)D2 levels may be observed clinically as ergocalciferol is widely available and highly prescribed in some countries.…”

Evaluation of vitamin D3 metabolites in Callithrix jacchus (common marmoset)

“…An LC–MS/MS panel was used to measure vitamin D 3 metabolites (Ziegler et al, 2018). As the serum level of vitamin D 3 metabolites are on average higher in the common marmoset than in the Old World monkeys, the volume used for the extraction and analyses was reduced to 50 µl.…”

Vitamin D Metabolism and Profiling in Veterinary Species

“…Interestingly, striking levels of variation in vitamin D status within species was detected even in laboratory primates that were subject to controlled diet and UV exposure [ 97 ]. Additionally, vitamin D status has been demonstrated to be lower in darker skinned baboons than in those with lighter skin, however there were no differences in downstream metabolites suggesting that downstream conversion is under strong regulatory control [ 98 ].…”

“…No reference range exists for 3-epi-25(OH)D3 in humans, therefore data from a systemic review which reported ranges from several studies was used (see Bailey et al (2013) [ 79 ]). The number of studies included to provide data for each of the veterinary species are as follows: ( A ) dogs n = 8 [ 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 ], cats n = 1 [ 85 ], horses n = 1 [ 88 ], sheep n = 4 [ 30 , 89 , 90 , 91 ], cattle n = 2 [ 92 , 93 ], pigs n = 1 [ 94 ], poultry n = 2 [ 95 , 96 ] and nonhuman primates n = 2 [ 97 , 98 ]; ( B ) dogs n = 2 [ 81 , 85 ] and cats n = 1 [ 85 ]; and C . dogs n = 1 [ 83 ].…”