| Summary: | <i>Background and Objectives:</i> The major cause of vitamin D deficiency is inadequate exposure to sunlight. It is difficult to supplement it with food because sufficient concentrations of vitamin D naturally occur only in a handful of food products. Thereby, deficiency of this vitamin is commonly corrected with oral supplements. Different supplement delivery systems for improved vitamin D stability and bioavailability are proposed. In this study, we compared efficiency of three vitamin D delivery systems: microencapsulated, micellized, and oil-based. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> As a model in this medical testing, laboratory rats were used for the evaluation of bioavailability of different vitamin D vehicles. Animals were divided into three groups: the first one was given microencapsulated vitamin D<sub>3</sub>, the second—oil-based vitamin D<sub>3</sub>, and the third—micellized vitamin D<sub>3</sub>. Test substances were given <i>per os</i> to each animal for 7 days, and vitamin D concentration in a form of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in the blood was checked both during the vitamin delivery period and later, up to the 24th day. <i>Results:</i> Comparison of all three tested products showed that the microencapsulated and oil-based vitamin D<sub>3</sub> vehicles were the most bioavailable in comparison to micellized vitamin D<sub>3</sub>. Even more, the effect of the microencapsulated form of vitamin D<sub>3</sub> remained constant for the longest period (up to 14 days). <i>Conclusions:</i> The results of this study suggest that the oral vitamin D supplement vehicle has an impact on its bioavailability, thus it is important to take into account how much of the suppled vitamin D will be absorbed. To maximize the full exploit of supplement, the best delivery strategy should be employed. In our study, the microencapsulated form of vitamin D was the most bioavailable.
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