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Research Communication

Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in Growing Kittens Is Related to Dietary Intake of Cholecalciferol¹

James G. Morris^*2, Kay E. Earle and Phillip A. Anderson

^* Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, and Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray, LE14 4RT, United Kingdom

²To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Vitamin D synthesis by growing kittens exposed to ultraviolet light is ineffective. Concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in plasma (the most useful index of vitamin D status) was measured in six groups each of seven kittens given a purified diet (12 g calcium and 8 g phosphorus/kg, calculated metabolizable energy = 20 kJ/g) that contained either 0.0, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 18.75 or 25 µg of cholecalciferol/kg diet. All kittens received these diets from 9 to 22 wk of age, and the two groups given the 0.0 and 3.125 µg cholecalciferol/kg treatments continued to receive the diets until they were 34 wk old. Total and ionizable calcium and phosphorus in plasma were not affected by treatments. No adverse clinical changes were observed or found on radiographic examination of the kittens at 22 or 34 wk of age. Plasma concentration of 25-OHD was linearly related (r² = 0.99, P < 0.001) to dietary intake of cholecalciferol. Plasma concentration of 25-OHD in kittens given the diet without added vitamin D was significantly less at 22 wk than at 9 wk, whereas kittens receiving the diet containing 3.125 µg cholecalciferol/kg had significantly higher 25-OHD concentrations at 22 and 34 wk than at 9 wk of age. Kittens given the 6.25 µg cholecalciferol/kg diet had plasma 25-OHD concentrations at 22 wk > 50 nmol/L which is considered replete for humans. An allowance of 6.25 µg (250 IU) of cholecalciferol/kg diet is suggested to provide a margin of safety.

KEY WORDS: • cholecalciferol • 25-hydroxyvitamin D • kitten • cats

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