Affiliation:
1. Department of Biotechnology Faculty of Engineering Toyama Prefectural University Toyama Japan
2. Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering Faculty of Engineering Toyama Prefectural University Toyama Japan
Abstract
ABSTRACTVitamin D deficiency, which has been a global health issue for decades, is involved in gut health and diseases. We examined the health benefits of Grifola frondosa (maitake mushroom), a potent dietary source of fungal vitamin D (D2), on DSS‐induced colitis in vitamin D‐deficient mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed a control diet, vitamin D3‐deficient diet (DD), maitake‐fortified DD, or vitamin D2‐fortified DD for 6 weeks. LC‐MS/MS analysis demonstrated that maitake‐fed mice showed an increased 25(OH)D2 alternative to 25(OH)D3 in plasma, as well as the mice fed an equivalent dose of vitamin D2. The mRNA expression profiles of vitamin D‐responsive genes, including renal Cyp24a1 and Cyp27b1, were normalized in the maitake‐fed mice. Severe DSS‐induced colitis observed in DD mice was attenuated in maitake‐fed mice; the accumulation of immune cells in the colonic mucosa and protein expression of colonic claudin‐2, a target gene of the vitamin D receptor, were comparable to that in control mice. Dietary intake of maitake was effective in improving vitamin D status and biological function, demonstrating a potential attenuative effect on severe DSS‐induced colitis in vitamin D3 deficient mice, as well as equivalent doses of vitamin D2.