Seasonal variation of serum α- and β-cryptoxanthin and 25-OH-vitamin D3 in women with osteoporosis

Summary β-Cryptoxanthin displays a unique anabolic effect on bone calcification. In women with osteoporosis, serum β-cryptoxanthin and 25-OH-vitamin D 3 showed a weak but significant correlation and exhibited a complementary seasonal distribution. The potential role of β-cryptoxanthin as a nutritional approach to improving bone health deserves further evaluation. Introduction Dietary intake and serum levels of β-cryptoxanthin have been inversely related to different bone and joint disorders and in vitro and animal studies have shown that β-cryptoxanthin displays a unique anabolic effect on bone calcification. Due to the emerging role of β-cryptoxanthin in bone biology, we aimed to assess the serum distribution and variability of β-cryptoxanthin and their potential relation to 25-OH-vitamin D 3 in women with osteoporosis. Methods Serum concentrations of α- and β-cryptoxanthin and 25-OH- D 3 in women with osteoporosis ( N = 644) were analyzed using a quality-controlled high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Results Overall, significant seasonal variations were found for the three analytes and inter-individual variation was also high (60–73%). β-cryptoxanthin and 25-OH-vitamin D 3 exhibited a marked complementary seasonal distribution in serum, with vitamin D displaying the highest values in summer and β-cryptoxanthin in winter. Conclusions Given the anabolic effect of β-cryptoxanthin on bone calcification and its complementary seasonal distribution with respect to 25-OH-vitamin D 3 , the potential role of β-cryptoxanthin as a sustainable nutritional approach to improving bone health deserves to be further evaluated.