Effects of 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol on the development of osteochondrosis in swine

The principal objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) on the development of osteochondrosis in 6- to 110-kg castrated male pigs. The growth rate and serum calcium and inorganic phosphate levels neither increased nor decreased in response to supplementation of 25-OH-D3. However, supplemental 25-OH-D3 significantly increased serum levels of 25-OH-D3 and 1,25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol without any influence on bone mineral density. The 25-OH-D3-treated group had significant (P<0.05) reduced incidence of osteochondrotic lesions compared to the control group as evidenced by macroscopically examining the articular cartilage of the distal humerus (32.4% vs. 59.3%) and distal femur (47.1% vs. 87.5%). Likewise, supplemental 25-OH-D3 significantly reduced osteochondrotic lesions over the control when histologically examining humerus (20.6% vs. 43.8%) and femur (52.9% vs. 87.5%). The results of this experiment suggested that 25-OH-D3 supplementation in pig diets had a tendency to promote normal endochondral ossification, inhibit osteochondrosis progression and possibly regenerate destroyed cartilage tissue.