Three: The University College Cork’s School of Food and Nutritional Sciences has the Cork Center for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research (T12 Y337 Cork, Ireland); ccu@namhsac. kFind articles by.
It is well known that salmon is a good source of vitamin D. However, new research shows that the amount of vitamin D in wild and farmed salmon varies a lot. Our goals were to: (1) find out how much vitamin D was in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) that were caught in two different bodies of water; (2) feed farmed Salmo salar 270–1440 µg vitamin D3/kg feed for 12 weeks, which is 4–20 times the maximum level allowed by the EU; and (3) look at previous research that had been done on vitamin D levels in salmonids. The amount of vitamin D3 in wild salmon fillets caught in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea was very different (p 05), being 18. 5 ± 4. 6 µg/100 g and 9. 4 ± 1. 9 µg/100 g, respectively. In the farmed salmon the content ranged from 2. 9 ± 0. 7 µg vitamin D3/100 g to 9. 5 ± 0. 7 µg vitamin D3/100 g. Data from 2018 shows that farmed salmon contained 2. 3–7. 3 µg vitamin D3/100 g. Not much is known about how much vitamin D is in wild and farmed salmonids. This means that more research is needed to make sure that salmon production can continue while still getting enough vitamin D.
In the past few decades, there has been a lot of interest in how low vitamin D levels might affect the risk of diseases other than skeletal diseases. These include heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancer, infectious diseases, and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It has also been studied for its more well-known role in the risk of metabolic bone disease [1,2]. Two ways to get vitamin D are through food and skin synthesis, which is started by being in the sun. Several environmental factors, such as latitude and the weather, affect whether or not there is enough strong sunlight for the skin to make vitamin D [1]. In the past few years, people have become more aware of the health risks of too much sun exposure. Because of this, more people are taking precautions like staying out of the sun, covering their skin, and using protective creams. This is lowering the production of vitamin D in the skin through sun exposure [2]. Skin production of vitamin D only happens during one season at latitudes above 35°. The time when skin production of vitamin D stops, known as the “vitamin D winter,” was thought to last anywhere from almost no time in southern Europe to as long as seven or eight months in the north of Norway [3]. The amount of people who don’t get enough vitamin D (25(OH)D) in their blood The recommended dietary intake of vitamin D is 10–20 µg/day [5,6,7,8]. Vitamin D intakes today are thought to be between 3 and 7 μg/day, varying based on diet, age, sex, and fortification methods [9].
Foods like eggs, fatty fish, and cod liver oil are thought to be good sources of vitamin D: Salmon as a fatty fish is generally regarded as having high vitamin D content. Most of the time, species in the Salmonidae family are called “wild salmon.” Salmo salar (S. It refers to the salmon that live in the Atlantic Ocean and the salmon that live in the Pacific Ocean. The latter includes the seven species—rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; O. The chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou), pink salmon (Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha), and sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are the species that live in our area [11]. In the EU, the consumption of salmonids was in total 1,338,514 tonnes in 2016, which covered 4. 6% of wild species and 95. 6% of farmed species [12]. Worldwide salmon and trout is the largest single fish commodity by value (18. 1%) but by weight it is about 7. 4%; of this, approximately 67% is S. salar and 33% is O. mykiss [13]. The vitamin D content in wild salmon has been reported as 8–55 µg vitamin D/100 g [14,15,16]. One interesting fact is that farmed salmon has been found to have a vitamin D3 level in the range 4 2–10 µg/100 g [15, 16, 17, 18, 19], and 11 µg vitamin D/100 g was found in Food Composition Databases [20]. The difference in vitamin D levels between wild and farmed salmon may have something to do with the vitamin D they get from their food, which seemed to be more important than the vitamin D their bodies make on their own [21,22]. A lot of the vitamin D that wild salmon in the North Atlantic get from their food comes from crustaceans. g. , amphipods, euphausiids and shrimps, and to a lesser extent, fish, e. g. , pearlsides and lanternfish, [23], whereas farmed salmon get their vitamin D via pelleted feed, i. e. , fishmeal, vegetable oil, minerals and vitamins. In the EU, the maximum allowed addition of vitamin D3 in fish feed is 75 µg/kg [24,25,26]. The EFSA FEEDAP Panel recently said that salmonids can handle a lot of vitamin D3. They found that 25 mg of vitamin D3 per kg of feed is the safest amount for salmonids to eat, and they think that 1,500 µg/kg of vitamin D in the feed would make fish products safe for people to eat [27].
Information from feeding trials in salmonids is limited. Previous studies in S. salar with the initial weight of 177 g and 170 mg [28,29] and in O. mykiss with an initial weight of 500 g [30] have been conducted. In S. There was more vitamin D3 in the fillet (up to 210 µg vitamin D3/100 g) or the whole fish (up to 650 µg vitamin D3/100 g) of salar, and there was more vitamin D in the feed (40–28,000 µg/kg feed and 200–57,000 µg/kg feed, respectively). Of note, there was no evidence of detrimental effects with the increasing feed in vitamin D levels [28,29]. In contrast, in O. The amount of vitamin D3 in the fillet did not change when the amount of vitamin D3 in the feed went up (9–539 µg vitamin D3/kg feed) [30].
The study’s goals were to test the following hypotheses: (1) How much vitamin D is in wild Atlantic salmon (S. salar) doesn’t depend on where the fish are caught; (2) high levels of vitamin D3 in fish food will make salmon fillets with the same amount of vitamin D3 as wild salmon Wild S. salar was caught in two different waters (Baltic Sea and North Sea), and a feeding trial in S. The salar started out at a weight of 1 kg and was fed 4 different amounts of vitamin D3 (270–57,000 µg/kg feed) for 12 weeks. The third goal was to look over the published information on the amount of vitamin D in raw salmonids from farms and the wild. salar and Oncorhynchus sp. , against which our new data could be bench-marked.
Salmon is well known as an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, and various vitamins and minerals. One nutrient that salmon contains in abundance is vitamin D. This essential vitamin plays a vital role in bone health, immune function, and much more. But how much vitamin D is actually in salmon? And does it vary between wild and farmed salmon?
In this comprehensive guide we’ll break down exactly how much vitamin D is found in different types of salmon. We’ll also look at why vitamin D matters how to get enough in your diet, and if supplements are ever necessary. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the vitamin D content of salmon!
Overview of Vitamin D in Salmon
According to the USDA, farmed Atlantic salmon contains 526 IU of vitamin D per 100 gram serving. This equates to 66% of the recommended daily intake. However, wild salmon contains even more – potentially up to 1000 IU per serving.
The vitamin D content can vary based on the origin and season. Salmon from the Baltic Sea provides 70-111% of the daily value per serving. Sockeye packs 570 IU per serving while wild Coho has around 250 IU.
Overall, salmon is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin D. Just one serving provides a substantial amount of this essential nutrient.
Why Vitamin D Matters
Vitamin D is crucial for absorbing calcium and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It also regulates inflammation, immune function, cell growth, and neuromuscular activity.
Deficiency is associated with rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, autoimmune disorders, hypertension, cancer, and more. Due to limited sun exposure, around 42% of Americans don’t get enough vitamin D.
Salmon is one of the few naturally rich sources of vitamin D. Just a single serving covers over half your daily needs. Consuming salmon regularly can help avoid deficiency and related health issues.
Wild vs Farmed Salmon
Wild salmon contains significantly more vitamin D than farmed. According to studies, wild salmon has 500-1000 IU per serving, while farmed has just 100-250 IU.
This difference likely relates to diet. Wild salmon consume vitamin D-rich crustaceans, while farmed salmon eat vitamin-fortified pellets.
Regardless, both provide a great dose of vitamin D. Per the USDA, a 100 gram serving of farmed Atlantic salmon packs 526 IU – over half the daily value. Wild salmon can provide up to 1000 IU per serving.
Seasonal and Locational Differences
Research shows salmon vitamin D content varies by season and location caught. One study found:
- Baltic Sea salmon: 556-924 IU/serving
- North Sea salmon: 566 IU/serving
Another study on farmed salmon found vitamin D levels ranging from 2.3-9.5 mcg/100 grams depending on season.
Salmon from northerly climates like Alaska and Norway tend to be richer in vitamin D due to colder, darker waters. Salmon caught in spring and summer also tend to be higher than fall and winter.
When buying salmon, opt for wild-caught fish from northern regions during peak season to maximize vitamin D content.
Other Fish High in Vitamin D
While salmon reigns supreme, other oily fish also provide vitamin D. Good sources include:
- Mackerel: 643 IU per serving
- Herring: 214 IU
- Sardines: 193 IU
- Swordfish: 566 IU
- Canned salmon: 570 IU
- Trout: 600-1000 IU
Canned fish like sardines, salmon, and mackerel are affordable ways to get vitamin D, often costing under $3 a can.
For variety, include fatty fish like mackerel, trout, and herring in your diet along with salmon.
Incorporating Salmon for Vitamin D
To reap salmon’s vitamin D benefits, aim for at least two 3.5 oz servings per week. Here are easy ways to eat more salmon:
- Canned salmon – Add to salads, pasta, sandwiches
- Baked salmon – Roast a salmon filet for a easy dinner
- Salmon burgers – Combine canned salmon with spices and breadcrumbs
- Salmon salad – Flake grilled salmon over greens and veggies
- Salmon sushi – Sub salmon for tuna in maki rolls
- Salmon scramble – Add smoked salmon to eggs
- Salmon pizza – Top homemade or store-bought pizza with smoked salmon
Choose wild-caught salmon when possible and cook using healthy methods like baking, grilling, or sautéing in olive oil.
Do You Need Vitamin D Supplements?
While salmon provides an ample dose of vitamin D, supplements may be beneficial for those at high risk of deficiency, including:
- Older adults
- People with digestive disorders
- Those with limited sun exposure
- People with kidney or liver disease
- Individuals with obesity
- People with dark skin tones
Talk to your doctor to find out if you need supplementation. Get your blood levels tested before starting supplements.
The recommended daily vitamin D dose is 600-800 IU. Don’t exceed the upper limit of 4000 IU without medical supervision. Choose reputable brands like Nordic Naturals.
Pair supplements with vitamin D-rich foods like salmon, sardines, eggs, and fortified dairy. A balanced approach helps your body absorb and utilize vitamin D most effectively.
Key Takeaways
- Farmed Atlantic salmon contains 526 IU of vitamin D per serving
- Wild salmon can provide up to 1000 IU per 3.5 oz serving
- Salmon is one of the few natural sources of vitamin D
- Vitamin D is vital for bone health, immune function, and disease prevention
- Salmon vitamin D levels vary based on season, location, and wild vs farmed
- Other good vitamin D sources include sardines, mackerel, eggs, and fortified foods
- Eat salmon 2x per week to meet vitamin D needs
- Supplements may be beneficial for those at high risk of deficiency
Incorporating salmon in your diet provides a big dose of vital vitamin D, helping prevent deficiency and related health issues. Maximizing this nutritious fish in your meal plan is a smart dietary move.
3. Review for Data on Vitamin D in Salmonids
A search was done in DTU FindIT up to February 2019 using the terms “vitamin D*” AND (fish OR salmon OR salmonid OR trout OR salmonidae) AND (food) NOT (breastfeeding OR status OR deficiency OR “human milk” OR “mothers milk”) [31]. In addition reports documenting the data in food composition databases were included. Results provided in IU were multiplied 0. 025, in order to be converted to µg.
We found and measured the amounts of vitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), vitamin D2, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 using liquid chromatography, triple quadrupole mass spectrometry, and electrospray ionization (Agilent 1200 Series and Agilent 6470, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) [32,33]. The homogenized samples were stored in plastic bags at maximum −20 °C, until analysis within 6 months. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for vitamin D (D3 and D2) and for 25-hydroxyvitamin D were (D3/D2) 0. 05 µg/100 g and 0. 03 µg/100 g, respectively, while the precision for both was <10% (CV). The in-house control salmon that was used in all the analytical series proved that the tests were done correctly throughout the whole study, which took two years to complete. 5 years. The in-house control salmon contained 15. 0 µg vitamin D3/100 g ± 6. 8% and 0. 28 µg 25-hydroxyvitamin D3/100 g ± 10%. All analyses performed were accredited according to ISO17025.
The content of fat in the fish was determined gravimetrically by a modified Schmid-Bondzynski-Ratslaff (SBR) procedure [34].
T-test was used to test for differences between the two groups of wild salmon. In the farmed salmon feeding trial, One- and Two-way-Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s HSD post hoc tests were used to see if there were any differences between the groups. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to find the link between the two variables (Microsoft, Excel 2010, Washington, DC, USA). A p-value < 0. 05 was classified as a significant difference. All results are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The conversion rate was found by dividing the amount of vitamin D in salmon fillets (µg/kg) by the amount of vitamin D in the feed (µg/kg).
The graph below shows how much fat, vitamin D3, and 25(OH)D3 were found in wild salmon based on its weight. No significant difference were observed in either weight (4. 1 ± 0. 5 kg vs. 5. 0 ± 1. 5 kg, respectively) or content of fat (9. 4 ± 1. 3 g/100 g vs. 9. 8 ± 2. It was only 0.1 g/100 g difference between the Baltic Sea and North Sea salmon groups (p 3 for both), but there was a significant difference (p < 0. 05) in the content of vitamin D3 (18. 5 ± 4. 6 µg/100 g vs. 9. 4 ± 1. 9 µg/100 g, respectively) and 25(OH)D3 (0. 30 ± 0. 03 µg/100 g and 0. 20 ± 0. 05 µg/100 g, respectively). The Pearson correlation coefficient between the amount of vitamin D3 and fat in the two groups was also 3.
The rise in salmon biomass in each of the four feeding groups at each of the four time points is shown in There was a significant increase in weight in all four groups (p < 0. 001), over the 12 weeks of the trial, with no significant difference (p = 0. 10) in the final weight of salmon, across the 4 treatment groups. During the trial, there were also no obvious physical or behavioral problems with the salmon, and no deaths were seen.
In each of the four treatment groups, salmon fillets had a mean amount of vitamin D3 as shown in Two-way ANOVA showed that there was a significant time (i. e. , weeks of feeding) main effect (p < 0. 01), a significant treatment group main effect (p < 0. 001), as well as a significant interaction between these two main effects (p < 0. 05). Specific values are provided in Table S2 in the Supplementary Material. After 12 weeks of feeding, there was a big difference between the four feeding levels in the amount of vitamin D3 in the fillet (p 001), such that the content in the group receiving 270 µg/kg was lowest (2. 9 ± 0. 7 µg/100 g), while it was highest in the salmon receiving 1,440 µg/kg (9. 5 ± 0. 7 µg/100 g) and intermediate in the groups receiving 590 and 890 µg/kg (5. 8 ± 0. 5 and 6. 6 ± 1. 2 µg/100 g, respectively).
There was no significant difference in the mean 25(OH)D3 content of the salmon fillet based on time or treatment group, as shown by two-way ANOVA. At the endpoint, the mean (± SD) content of all the salmon was 0. 14 ± 0. 05 µg/100 g. The vitamin D2 and 25-vitamin D2 content of all salmon were below the LOQ.
The conversion rate from µg vitamin D3/kg feed to µg vitamin D3/kg fish fillet decreased from 0. 11, 0. 10, 0. 07 to 0. 07 for feeding with 270, 590, 890 and 1,440 µg vitamin D3/kg feed, respectively.
Materials and Method
Five Atlantic salmon (3. 5–4. In March 2014, seven Atlantic salmon (3.75 kg whole weight) were caught in the Baltic Sea (catch area FAO-27, 3D), and five Atlantic salmon (3. 3–7. There were 1 kg of North Sea fish caught in Skjern Å, Jutland, Denmark (55°N, 12°E) in June 2016. From each salmon, one of the fillets was separated for analysis.
Sparos Lda., Olhão, Portugal provided the vitamin D3-enriched salmon feed. It had the same amount of nutrients as commercial diets for a salmon this size. Detailed information on the feed is provided in Table S1 in the Supplementary Material. In the feeding trial, the goal vitamin D levels were 75 µg/kg, as well as five, ten, and twenty times that level. The actual levels of vitamin D3 in the feed were about 270 µg/kg, 590 µg/kg, 890 µg/kg, and 1440 µg/kg, which were different from what was expected. The salmon were fed 1% body weight/day.
The salmon for the feeding test came from Murphy’s Irish Seafood in South-West Ireland in October 2014 and weighed about 1 kg. Forty salmon were put into each of four 8000 L tanks at Bantry Marine Research Station, Cork, Ireland. The fish were acclimatised to the tanks for two weeks, prior to the start of the trial. The salmon that got 590 µg vitamin D3/kg were given the right food, but they were moved to the test tanks two weeks after the other three feeding groups because of a technical issue.
Each tank was supplied with filtered seawater and a steady supply of oxygen. Environmental parameters (dissolved oxygen concentration, salinity and temperature) were measured daily. There were probes in the tanks that checked the oxygen levels every 10 minutes and added oxygen automatically to keep the level at The natural salinity varied from approximately 33. 3 ppt to 36. 8 ppt, while the water temperature varied between 8. 4–14. 6 °C, as measured by the OxyGuard Handy Polaris (OxyGuard International, Farum, Denmark). Any behavioural changes were noted, this included incidences where the fish did not feed as voraciously as usual.
At day 0 of the trial, ten salmon were picked at random to get weight and fillet vitamin D content at the start. After four, eight, and twelve weeks of the feeding trial, ten salmon were randomly chosen from each tank to get their weight so that the growth performance and vitamin D content of the fillet could be estimated. This involved euthanising with tricaine mesylate, before measuring the weight, followed by removing one of the fillets. Items were kept at -18 °C until the test was over, and then they were sent to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) to be analyzed for vitamin D.
Vitamin D: How Much Food Would You Have to Eat?
FAQ
How much vitamin D is in one serving of 3 ounces of cooked salmon?
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FOODbc
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STANDARD PORTIONd
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Vitamin D (IU)
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Protein Foodse
|
|
|
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Rainbow trout, freshwater
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3 ounces
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645
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Salmon (various)
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3 ounces
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383-570
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Light tuna, canned
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3 ounces
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231
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How much vitamin D do you need a day?
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Age
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Male
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Female
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14–18 years
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15 mcg (600 IU)
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15 mcg (600 IU)
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19–50 years
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15 mcg (600 IU)
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15 mcg (600 IU)
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|
51–70 years
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15 mcg (600 IU)
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15 mcg (600 IU)
|
|
>70 years
|
20 mcg (800 IU)
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20 mcg (800 IU)
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How much vitamin D is in salmon?
One study found that a 3.5-ounce serving of wild-caught salmon can contain between 500-1000 IU of vitamin D, while farmed salmon contained only 100-250 IU per serving. Another study found that the vitamin D content of salmon caught in the Baltic sea ranged from 556-924 IU per serving, providing 70-111% of the daily recommended intake.
Does salmon contain calcium?
Salmon is rich in essential minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium, and vitamins. However, on the list, sardines are a fish with large amounts of calcium.
Does salmon have more vitamin D than farmed salmon?
However, wild-caught salmon typically has more vitamin D than farmed salmon, with some studies showing that it can contain up to 160% of the daily recommended intake per serving. The amount of vitamin D in salmon can also vary depending on where it’s caught and the time of year.
Does a high vitamin D level in fish feed produce salmon fillet?
The objectives in this study was to test the following hypotheses: (1) vitamin D content in wild Atlantic salmon ( S. salar) is independent of the catch area, (2) increased levels of vitamin D 3 in fishfeed, at high levels, will produce salmon fillet with similar levels as wild salmon.