OPTIMAL-D · Development and Application of Mass Spectrometry Methods for Analysis of Optimal Vitamin D

Development and Application of Mass Spectrometry Methods for Analysis of Optimal Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent across European communities and globally. Deficiency of vitamin D is linked with multiple health and social issues across all communities, including bone health and immune functions. Despite the clear importance of optimal vitamin D levels, analysis of vitamin D status and deficiency has continued to rely on measurements of a single inactive vitamin D precursor metabolite; 25-hydroxyvitamin D as the sole biomarker. However, vitamin D undergoes complex metabolism, transport and distribution with many metabolites formed throughout its metabolic pathways that have varying biological actions, or unknown actions. OPTIMAL-D aims to establish state-of-the art mass spectrometry analytical methods to characterise vitamin D status in human populations across different health settings, and identify unique biomarkers of vitamin D linked with health and disease. The project outcomes are expected to lead to important benefits for society by reducing the possible health implications of vitamin D deficiency. The outputs from OPTIMAL-D include the development of novel liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry methods to simultaneously measure multiple vitamin D metabolites across different biological sample matrices. Translational applications of these methods to health and population studies have achieved novel reference levels and provided context to under investigated vitamin D pathways. This includes analysis revealing that conjugated forms of vitamin D, including 25-hydroxyvitamin D circulate at high concentrations that may have important biological storage and reservoir functions. The application of mass spectrometry methods to observational cohorts have revealed differences in circulating vitamin D metabolism following supplementation of vitamin D. Furthermore, different associations have been found between individual vitamin D metabolites and skeletal health during ageing. The overall conclusions from these findings have highlighted the complex metabolic pathways and the impact of vitamin D sufficiency and deficiency across different population groups and health settings. Further conclusions are that the biological impact of vitamin D can be more accurately assessed by integrating multiple metabolite measurements beyond 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The developed and validated analytical methods established from this project are expected to contribute towards future healthcare tools to monitor vitamin D and guide future policies for supplementation strategies for reducing deficiency and to optimise vitamin D treatment in individuals.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union