Research Communication: Reproductive Defects Are Corrected in Vitamin D–Deficient Female Rats Fed a High Calcium, Phosphorus and Lactose Diet

Abstract

Vitamin D-deficient female rats are capable of reproduction; however, vitamin D deficiency reduces their overall reproductive capacity. It was previously suggested that the reduction in reproductive performance is a direct result of a lack of vitamin D rather than an effect of the hypocalcemia or hypophosphatemia that can be associated with vitamin D deficiency. In the present study, rats were fed one of three diets: 1) 0.47% Ca(+2) and 0.3% phosphorus (P(i)) with vitamin D; 2) 0.47% Ca(+2) and 0.3% P(i) without vitamin D; and 3) 20% lactose, 2% Ca(+2) and 1.25% P(i) without vitamin D. Their reproductive capacity was monitored. Vitamin D-deficient rats fed the high calcium, high phosphorus, 20% lactose diet had normal serum calcium (2.2 +/- 0.16 mmol/L), slightly lower phosphorus (1.5 +/- 0.3 mmol/L), and undetectable 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3). The decrease in reproductive capacity, as indicated by the fertility ratio and pup number per litter previously seen in vitamin D-deficient rats was completely corrected when serum calcium and phosphorus levels were normalized relative to vitamin D-replete rats. It appears likely that the diminished reproductive performance attributed to vitamin D deficiency is the result of hypocalcemia and/or hypophosphatemia caused by vitamin D deficiency.