Evidence that discrimination against ergocalciferol by the chick is the result of enhanced metabolic clearance rates for its mono- and dihydroxylated metabolites.

Studies on the discrimination between ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) by chickens have led to conflicting conclusions. To investigate this problem in more detail, radiolabeled vitamin D and vitamin D metabolites were administered intravenously, which allowed determination of their relative plasma clearance rates. The study involved three groups of adult male chickens (five per group). Birds in group 1 were co-dosed with [3H]vitamin D2 and [3H]vitamin D3. Birds in group 2 were co-dosed with [3H]25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 and [3H]25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and birds in group 3 were co-dosed with [3H]1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and [3H]1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2. The results indicated that the plasma turnover rate of [3H]vitamin D2 is 1.5 times faster than that of [3H]vitamin D3. Plasma turnover of the 25-hydroxylated metabolites differed, with [3H]25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 clearing faster (11 times) than [3H]25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The largest difference appeared in the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 turnover rates with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 clearing approximately 33 times faster then [3H]1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. These data, therefore, indicate that discrimination against vitamin D2 sterols in the chick occurs primarily between steps in the metabolism of vitamin D and not at the point of metabolism or excretion of the parent vitamin.