1. Effect of Short-Term UVB Exposure on Vitamin D Concentration of Eggs and Vitamin D Status of Laying Hens
- Author
-
Julika Lietzow, Holger Kluge, Frank Hirche, Markus Glomb, Corinna Brandsch, Nicole Seeburg, and Gabriele I. Stangl
- Subjects
Vitamin ,food.ingredient ,Ultraviolet Rays ,Eggs ,Ultraviolet therapy ,vitamin D deficiency ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Animal science ,food ,Yolk ,Vitamin D and neurology ,medicine ,Animals ,Vitamin D ,Eggshell ,Poultry Diseases ,integumentary system ,Chemistry ,General Chemistry ,Vitamin D Deficiency ,medicine.disease ,Animal Feed ,Oviparity ,embryonic structures ,Female ,Ultraviolet Therapy ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,Cholecalciferol ,Chickens ,Production rate - Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency in humans is widespread, and only a few food items are important natural sources of vitamin D. This study investigated the effect of UVB exposure of laying hens on the vitamin D content in egg yolk. In a two-factorial design, hens fed a vitamin D-deficient (-D) or -adequate (+D) diet were nonexposed or exposed to UVB light over a period of 4 weeks. UVB exposure of the -D group caused nearly normal egg production rate and egg shell quality; exposure of the +D group did not further improve these parameters. UVB exposure tended to improve the concentration of plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D(3)), but had no effect on 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in plasma or on cholecalciferol and 25(OH)D(3) in egg yolk. The present study shows that a short-term exposure of laying hens to UVB light is not an appropriate way to improve the vitamin D content of egg yolk.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF