Effects of a light-emitting diode on the production of cholecalciferol and associated blood parameters in the bearded dragon (pogona vitticeps)
2017
Cusack, Lara | Rivera, Sam | Lock, Brad | Benboe, Daniel | Brothers, David | Divers, Stephen
The importance of vitamin D₃ has been documented in multiple reptile species, with deficiencies resulting in alterations in calcium homeostasis, including nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism. Though vitamin D₃ can be obtained directly from dietary sources or from photobiosynthetic production, species variability in diet and behavior makes exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation an essential requirement for some diurnal species. The effect of different bulbs to promote synthesis of cholecalciferol (vitamin D₃) in the bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) was evaluated. Individual animals (n = 5 for each group) were exposed to industry standard fluorescent bulbs (UVB), non–UVB producing bulbs (UVBN), and light-emitting diode (LED) UVB (LED) bulbs for a period of 11 mo. Weekly measurements of UV index (UVI) were recorded for each bulb. Plasma vitamin D₃, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD₃), ionized calcium (iCa), total calcium (TCa), and phosphorus (P) were measured at time zero and at 4 mo, 8 mo, and 11 mo. Parameters were measured between groups and time points. There were decreases (P < 0.05) with time for iCa for the LED and UVB groups, for TCa in the UVB group, and for vitamin D₃ in the LED and UVBN groups. There were no significant differences between study groups for vitamin D₃, iCa, TCa, or P. Overall plasma concentration for 25OHD₃ in the LED group was greater than for the UVB (P = 0.0347) and the UVBN (P = 0.0490) groups.
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