Vitamin D is crucial for good bone health and muscle strength; adequate amounts help the body maintain bone density, reducing the risk of fracture, osteomalacia, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. The nutrient also plays an integral role in modulating the immune system to help fight infections like the flu and reduces the risk of many common diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression and diabetes.
New research presented at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology found consuming mushrooms rich in vitamin D2 can be as effective at increasing and maintaining vitamin D levels (25–hydroxyvitamin D) as taking supplemental vitamin D2 or vitamin D3. The study also was published in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine conducted the randomized study of 30 healthy adults who took capsules containing 2,000 International Units (IU) of vitamin D2, 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 or 2,000 IU of mushroom powder containing vitamin D2 once a day for 12 weeks during the winter. Baseline serum 25–hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], a measure to determine a person's vitamin D status, were not significantly different among the groups.
The levels among the three groups gradually increased and plateaued at seven weeks and were maintained for the next five weeks. After 12 weeks of the vitamin D supplements, the levels were not statistically significantly different than those who ingested the mushroom powder.
"These results provide evidence that ingesting mushrooms that have been exposed to ultraviolet light and contain vitamin D2 are a good source of vitamin D that can improve the vitamin D status of healthy adults," said Michael F. Holick, principal investigator. "Furthermore we found ingesting mushrooms containing vitamin D2 was as effective in raising and maintaining a healthy adult's vitamin D status as ingesting a supplement that contained either vitamin D2 or vitamin D3."
Holick said the results confirm other studies that have demonstrated that ingesting vitamin D2 either from fortified orange juice, a supplement or a pharmaceutical formulation were all capable of increasing total circulating 25(OH) D concentrations for at least three months and up to six years.
The researchers said ingesting mushrooms containing vitamin D2 can be an effective strategy to enhance a persons' vitamin D status.
"The observation that some mushrooms when exposed to UVB light also produce vitamin D3 and vitamin D4 can also provide the consumer with at least two additional vitamin Ds," Holick said.
