Open AccessPlasma Vitamin D Metabolites and C‐Reactive Protein in Stage‐Stop Racing Endurance Sled Dogs
Author(s) -
Spoo J.W.,
Downey R.L.,
Griffitts C.,
Horst R.J.,
Levine C.B.,
Childs R.M.,
Wakshlag J.J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.12546
Subject(s) - medicine , c reactive protein , acute phase protein , vitamin , vitamin d and neurology , endocrinology , inflammation
Background Dogs are a unique model for examining the effects of exercise on vitamin D status because of their lack of vitamin D synthesis by UV exposure. In addition, the inflammatory response may be associated with hypovitaminosis D. Objectives To investigate the effects of several days of endurance exercise on plasma vitamin D (25‐( OH )D 3 , 24,25‐( OH )D 3 and 1,25( OH )D 3 ) and serum C‐reactive protein ( CRP ) concentrations in stage‐stop racing sled dogs. Animals 12 racing sled dogs and 8 control dogs. Methods Blood was collected before the race and immediately after racing on days 2 and 8. Plasma vitamin D metabolites and serum CRP concentrations were measured. Results Racing dogs showed a significant increase in 25( OH )D 3 on day 2 ( P = .027) and day 8 of the race ( P < .001), whereas no increases were observed in control dogs. The plasma concentration of 24,25( OH )D 3 showed a significant increase by day 8 ( P < .001). There were no significant changes in 1,25( OH ) D 3 concentrations across all time points and groups. Racing dogs had significantly increased CRP concentrations by day 2 (39.3 ± 30.1 μg/mL; P < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Increases in vitamin D metabolites as well as increases in CRP concentrations were observed in racing sled dogs. This finding was contrary to the hypothesis that decreases in vitamin D status in athletes may be related to the acute phase inflammatory response during exercise. In addition, the increased 24,25( OH )D 3 concentrations compared to what is observed in other species suggests metabolic variations in dogs that lead to enhanced disposal of vitamin D.