This week Leah asks,

“I’m vegan and have read that mushrooms are a good source of Vitamin D. Is this true?”

Resources

Effect of supplementation with vitamin D2-enhanced mushrooms on vitamin D status in healthy adults, J Nutr Sci. 2013; 2: e29.

This study is co-funded by The Mushroom Council in the USA and the Australian Mushroom Growers Association.

In conclusion, consumption of vitamin D2-enhanced mushrooms did not alter total 25(OH)D levels.

Journal of Nutritional Science

Bioavailability of vitamin D(2) and D(3) in healthy volunteers, a randomized placebo-controlled trial, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov;98(11):4339-45

This independent study was slightly larger and twice as long, using a larger dose of D2 (50-?g/d vs 15-?g/d in the Journal of Nutritional Science study) and concluded Vitamin D2 supplementation was associated with a decrease in 25(OH)D3”

The most interesting result of our study, however, is the decrease in 25(OH)D3 after supplementation with vitamin D2. This was already evident after 4 weeks, and the decrease was significantly different from the seasonal decrease observed in the placebo group. A decrease in 25(OH)D3 after supplementation with vitamin D2 was reported earlier by Glendenning et al (22) in elderly hip fracture patients receiving 1000 IU/d for a period of 3 months, and also by Armas et al (26), who studied single doses of 50 000 IU of D2 and D3 in healthy men with a follow-up period of 28 days.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

How much Vitamin D do you need? Including supplement dosage and sun exposure.

Health Q & A Monday ran for over 30 weeks in 2015. For more recent videos subscribe to Gill’s YouTube channel.

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