Vitamin D C3 epimer in a mid-Swedish region-Analytical measurement and epidemiology

We report findings from the first epidemiologic study of 3-epi-25(OH)D3 conducted in Sweden, based on a large population sample. 3-epi-25(OH)D3 was detected in 7.7% of the study population and the mean concentration was 8.4 nmol/L. The quantification of 3-epi-25(OH)D3 would not significantly influence the clinical interpretation of vitamin D levels. Additional studies are needed to understand the metabolic pathway and the possible physiological functions of this metabolite.