Deposition in and release of vitamin D<sub>3</sub> from body fat: evidence for a storage site in the rat

Saul J. Rosenstreich; Clayton Rich; Wade Volwiler

doi:10.1172/JCI106538

Deposition in and release of vitamin D₃ from body fat: evidence for a storage site in the rat

Published March 1, 1971 - More info

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Abstract

Vitamin D in all body tissues was radio-labeled by supplementing completely vitamin D-deficient weanling rats with oral vitamin D₃-4-¹⁴C for 2 wk. All vitamin D was then withheld, and radioactivity and vitamin D content in a variety of organs and tissues were measured. Adipose tissue was found to contain by far the greatest quantity of radioactivity throughout the 3 month experimental period. Immediately after supplementation, half of the total radioactivity in adipose tissue corresponded to unaltered vitamin D₃, and the other half to polar metabolites and esters of vitamin D₃ and unidentified peak II. 1 month later there was approximately the same proportion but a decrease in the total quantity of each form. We conclude that adipose tissue is the major storage site for vitamin D₃ in its several forms. Unaltered vitamin D₃ was the principal storage form observed and presumably a source available for conversion to other metabolites during deprivation.