25-Hydroxyvitamin D3: Evidence of an Enterohepatic Circulation in Man

Within 24 hr after intravenous administration of isotopic 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to three normal adults for kinetic studies, one-third of the radioactivity was secreted into the lumen of the duodenum, probably with the bile. The subsequent intestinal reabsorption of over 85% of secreted radioactivity suggests that this major metabolite of vitamin D has a hitherto unrecognized enterohepatic circulation. Our observation of a dynamic hepatic secretion and intestinal reabsorption of radioactivity administered as 3H-labeled 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to vitamin D-replete man is indicative of an enterohepatic circulation that may be of physiologic importance. It is conceivable that interruption in the recycling of 25-OH-D3 may be an important mechanism of acquired deficiency of vitamin D in gastrointestinal disease.