Vitamin D3

Vitamin D requirements can be covered in two ways: by ingestion and/or via the endogenous synthesis of vitamin D3 from cholesterol, a process that requires the animals to be exposed to sunlight. Kept indoors without exposure to sunlight, vitamin D3 synthesis is insufficient to cover requirements and they should receive an external supply in their feed.

The classical Vitamin D  function is in the regulation of calcium absorption in the gut, the homeostasis of serum calcium and phosphorus as well as by its action on bone growth. Novel roles of vitamin D have been identified and they include, amongst others, the regulation of both the innate and adaptive immune system and the cell proliferation and differentiation, with implications in muscle formation. 

For more information on dsm-firmenich Vitamin Supplementation Guidelines.