General Description
Fine colorless crystals. Water insoluble.
Reactivity Profile
VITAMIN D3(67-97-0) may react vigorously with strong oxidizing agents. May react exothermically with reducing agents to release hydrogen gas.
Air & Water Reactions
Sensitive to moisture, air and light. . Water insoluble.
Health Hazard
SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of exposure to this compound may include weakness, fatigue, lassitude headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, polyuria, polydipsia, nocturia, decrease urinary concentrating ability, proteinuria, tissue calcification, hypertension and osteoporosis.
Potential Exposure
Sterol rodenticide used in bait for vermin control. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that has an important role in regulating body levels of calcium and phosphorus, and in mineralization of bone. Not approved for use in EU countries
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for this chemical are not available. VITAMIN D3 is probably combustible.
First aid
Move victim to fresh air. Call 911 or emergency medical service. Give artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. Do not use mouth-to-mouth method if victim ingested or inhaled the substance; give artificial respiration with the aid of a pocket mask equipped with a one-way valve or other proper respiratory medical device. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. For minor skin contact, avoid spreading material on unaffected skin. Keep victim warm and quiet. Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact) to substance may be delayed. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor or authorized paramedic may consider administering a drug or other inhalation therapy.
Shipping
UN2811 Toxic solids, organic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials, Technical Name Required
Incompatibilities
Sensitive to air, light, and moisture. Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides.
Chemical Properties
White or colorless crystalline solid. Odorless;
Waste Disposal
Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material’s impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.
Originator
Vitamin D, Country Life
Indications
Vitamin D is the collective term for a group of compounds
formed by the action of ultraviolet irradiation on
sterols. Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and calciferol (vitamin
D2) are formed by irradiation of the provitamins 7-
dehydrocholesterol and ergosterol, respectively. The
conversion to vitamin D3 occurs in the skin. The liver is
the principal storage site for vitamin D, and it is here that
the vitamin is hydroxylated to form 25-hydroxyvitamin
D. Additional hydroxylation to form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin
D occurs in the kidney in response to the need for
calcium and phosphate
Indications
Vitamin D3, through its active metabolite, 1,25-
(OH)2D3, also plays an important role in maintaining
calcium homeostasis by enhancing intestinal calcium
absorption, PTH-induced mobilization of calcium from
bone, and calcium reabsorption in the kidney.
Manufacturing Process
5 g of 7-dehydrocholesteryl acetate (prepared by W.R. Ness, R. S. Kostic and
Mosetting, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 78, 436, 1956) were dissolved in 500 ml of nhexane. This solution was irradiated with ultraviolet ray by recyclicly passing it
through a quartz apparatus surrounding 450 w high pressure mercury vapor
lamps for 80 minutes. After irradiation and then the distillating off of nhexane the solution was added with 50 ml of ethanol and the ethanolic
solution was left to stand overnight at the temperature of -20°C. The formed
crystals were filtered off from ethanolic solution and filtrate was heated at the
temperature 78°C for 4 hours. After cooling of filtrate, the cooled filtrate was
added with 4 ml of ethanolic solution containing 0.7 g of potassium hydroxide
to effect a reaction at the temperature of 20°C and under nitrogen for 60
minutes. The reaction product was added with 0.7 ml glacial acetic acid and
then ethanol was distilled off under reduced pressure from the reaction
product. The obtained residue was extracted with 50 ml of n-hexane and
extract was washed with water and n-hexane was distilled off from extract to
obtain 2.5 g of yellow oily matter containing vitamin D3. The content of
vitamin D3 in yellow oily matter was 40.2% by weight.
Therapeutic Function
Vitamin, Antirachitic
Biosynthesis
The primary supply of vitamin D3 in humans is not obtained
from the diet but rather is derived from the ultraviolet
photoconversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to vitamin
D3 in skin. Thus, vitamin D3 synthesis varies with the seasons.
D3 is a prohormone and requires further metabolic
conversion to exert biological activity in its target organs. The liver and the kidney are the major sites
of metabolic activation of this endogenous sterol hormone.
The initial transformation of D3 occurs in the liver
and is catalyzed by the enzyme 25-OH-D3-hydroxylase
to form 25-(OH)D3; this is the primary circulating form
of D3. Circulating 25-(OH)D3 is then converted by the
kidney to the most active form of D3, 1,25-(OH)2D3, by
the 1-(OH)-D3-hydroxylase enzyme. Blood concentrations
of 1,25-(OH)2D3 are approximately one fivehundredth
of those of 25-(OH)D3. 1, 25-(OH)2D3 is converted
to the metabolite 24R,25-(OH)2D3, which is capable
of suppressing parathyroid secretion.
In addition to the endogenous metabolites, some exogenous
sterols possess biological activity similar to
that of D3. Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) is derived from
the plant sterol ergosterol and may act as a substrate for
both the 25-hydroxylase and the 1-hydroxylase enzyme
systems of the liver and kidney to form 25-(OH)D2 and
1,25-(OH)2 D2, respectively. Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2)
is the form used in commercial vitamins and supplemented
dairy products. Dihydrotachysterol, another
sterol that is used as a therapeutic agent, also functions
as a substrate for the hydroxylase enzymes in the liver
and kidney.
Agricultural Uses
Rodenticide: Used in bait for vermin control. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that has an important role in regulating body
levels of calcium and phosphorus, and in mineralization of
bone. Not approved for use in EU countries. Registered
for use in the U.S. and other countries.
Trade name
DELSTEROL®; DEPARAL®; D3-
VIGANTOL®; QUINTOX®; RAMPAGE®; RICKETON®;
TRIVITAN®; VIGORSAN®; VITINC DAN-DEE-3®
Biochem/physiol Actions
Vitamin D acts through a receptor that is a member of the ligand-dependent transcription factor superfamily. Modulates the proliferation and differentiation of both normal and cancer cells. Has antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects on breast, colon, and prostate cancer cells. Activated vitamin D receptors in intestine and bone maintain calcium absorbance and homeostasis.
Mechanism of action
1, 25-(OH)2D3 exerts its influence within target tissues
through high-affinity sterol-specific intracellular receptor
proteins.The D3 receptor, similar to steroid receptor
systems, translocates the hormone from the cell cytoplasm
to the nucleus, where biological response is initiated
via transcription and translation.
Clinical Use
The principal disorder associated with inadequate
vitamin D intake is rickets. The low blood calcium and
phosphate levels that occur during vitamin D deficiency
stimulate parathyroid hormone secretion to restore calcium
levels. In children, this deficiency
leads to the formation of soft bones that become deformed
easily; in adults, osteomalacia results from the
removal of calcium from the bone.Vitamin D deficiency
may occur in patients with metabolic disorders, such as
hypoparathyroidism and renal osteodystrophy. The requirement
for vitamin D is slightly higher in members
of darker-pigmented races, since melanin interferes
with the irradiation that produces vitamin D3 in the
skin. People with limited exposure to the sun may need
to supplement vitamin D intake.
Side effects
The hypercalcemia resulting from hypervitaminosis
D is responsible for toxic symptoms such as muscle
weakness, bone pain, anorexia, ectopic calcification, hypertension,
and cardiac arrhythmias. Toxicity in infants
can result in mental and physical retardation, renal failure,
and death.
Drug interactions
Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs
Antiepileptics: the effects of vitamin D may
be reduced in patients taking barbiturates or
anticonvulsants.
Diuretics: increased risk of hypercalcaemia with
thiazides.
Sevelamer: absorption may be impaired by sevelamer.
Metabolic pathway
Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is the mammalian form of vitamin D. It is
normally produced in the skin by the action of UV light on its precursor, 7-
dehydrocholesterol. Essential amounts of the vitamin are obtained thus or
from dietary sources such as fish oils. The active form of the vitamin is
1,25-dihydroxy-cholecalciferol. Its formation occurs in two stages: 25-
hydroxylation in the liver, followed by 1-hydroxylation in the kidney (see
Engstrom and Koszewski, 1989 and references cited therein).
Metabolism
Within the liver, cholecalciferol is hydroxylated to
calcidiol (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) by the enzyme
25-hydroxylase. Within the kidney, calcidiol serves as
a substrate for 1-alpha-hydroxylase, yielding calcitriol
(1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol), the biologically active
form of vitamin D3.
Cholecalciferol and its metabolites are excreted mainly in
the bile and faeces.
Purification Methods
It is converted into its 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl ester and crystallised repeatedly from acetone. The ester is then saponified and the free vitamin is isolated. [Laughland & Phillips Anal Chem 28 817 1956, Beilstein 6 III 2811, 6 IV 4149.]
Degradation
It is unstable in light and air and in acidic media.
It is inactivated within a few days under normal exposure conditions. This
is due to oxidation and fragmentation of the triene functionality.
Toxicity evaluation
Another steroidal rodenticide is
cholecalciferol, which is in fact the naturally occurring
vitamin D3. This compound is an essential factor for
vertebrates but in large doses causes hypercalcemia,
resulting in calcification and degeneration of various
soft tissues, ultimately leading to death. In baits,
cholecalciferol may be combined with other, usually
anticoagulant, rodenticides. The main natural source of
cholecalciferol is fish liver oil, but it is manufactured from
ergosterol.