Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining the health of our bones, teeth, joints, and immune system functions. The main source of vitamin D is sunlight, using ultraviolet B ray absorption. Other sources of vitamin D include Fatty fish, such as tuna or salmon, cheese, egg yolks, or foods fortified with vitamin D such as some dairy products or orange juice. When vitamin D is absorbed, it travels through the liver and becomes 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D. By measuring the levels of 25(OH)D, doctors can detect and diagnose vitamin D deficiencies. Recent evidence suggests a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and health problems such as high blood pressure, Type-2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. Vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a risk factor in patients with cardiovascular disease. Additionally, vitamin D supplementation has been associated with an improved prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Heart Failure in Dogs and correlation with Vitamin D
The relationship between vitamin D deficiencies with its role in calcium and bone metabolism has been well documented. However, the relationship between vitamin D and chronic valvular heart disease (CVHD) is less studied. A recent report showed that dogs that had congestive heart failure have a lower concentration of 25(OH)D. Interestingly dogs obtain vitamin D through diet instead of sunlight. Congestive heart failure in dogs is caused by CVHD or dilated cardiomyopathy. Professor Takiguchi from the Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine at Hokkaido University in Japan, found a potential link between the shortage of vitamin D and heart failure in dogs. Professor Takiguchi hypothesized that dogs with higher severity of CVHD will correlate with the vitamin D level. The sample set used in the analysis were 43 recruited client-owned dogs that have CVHD. The research lab gathered blood samples, collected them into blood collection tubes, spun the samples, and finally separated them into serum fractions. These serum concentration were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to understand the 25(OH)D levels found in each dog. The data suggest that a vitamin D deficiency increased the risk of CVHD in dogs.
Tools at Enzo
Researching the effects of different biochemical components inside the human body will help us better understand how our bodies adapt to the ever changing environments. By ensuring we receive enough exposure to sunlight, our bodies can synthesize sufficient vitamin D that aids in keeping our bones, teeth and immune systems healthy. Studies done on vitamin D levels, such as the Takiguchi lab’s research, focused on a potential relationship of Vitamin D status found in dogs with different stages of CVHD. Their findings will hopefully inspire other researchers to investigate additional links to different diseases and vitamin D. Enzo Life Sciences has a very unique portfolio for researchers investigating vitamin D.
Our 25(OH)D Vitamin D ELISA kit can additionally measure 25(OH)D levels in human plasma and serum samples with fast and accurate results. In addition, Enzo offers
antibodies,
immunoassays,
live cell analysis kits,
proteins and
small molecules, some of which are listed below:
