Vitamin D2 powder, chemically known as ergocalciferol, is a ring-opening steroid formed by chemical bond breaking of steroids under photochemical action, especially under the action of ultraviolet light and ergosterol. The ergocalciferol prepared in the early stage is also known as Viosterol. According to the diagnostic guidelines of the United States in 2011, ergocalciferol may be used as a dietary supplement to supplement vitamin D. ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) produced by skin under ultraviolet radiation are equally effective. There are many names for ergocalciferol. Vitamin D2 is absorbed by the small intestine, and its absorption requires bile salt and special α- After binding, globulin is transported to other parts of the body and stored in liver and fat. Metabolism and activation first pass through the liver, followed by the kidney. The starting time of action is 12-24 hours, and the treatment effect takes 10-14 days.
1. Maintain blood calcium and phosphorus balance. Vitamin D2 is a kind of vitamin drug. Vitamin D2 can promote the function of intestinal mucosa to absorb calcium, increase the concentration of blood calcium and phosphorus, cooperate with parathyroid hormone and calcitonin to promote the release of calcium phosphate from old bone, and maintain the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body.
2. In addition, vitamin D2 can promote calcium deposition in the formation site of new bone, make citrate deposit in bone, promote bone calcification, promote bone cell function and bone maturation.
3. If vitamin D2 deficiency easily leads to osteoporosis or rickets, this drug is also used to treat vitamin D deficiency. For absolute vegetarians, parenteral nutrition supporters and patients with pancreatic insufficiency, additional vitamin D supplementation may be required.
The world consumption of vitamin D2 powder is 1800 tons/year, of which 70% - 80% is used for feed additives. China has a large population and most children are calcium deficient, so the incidence rate of rickets is very high, while the incidence of osteoporosis in the elderly is more than twice that of developed countries. Therefore, children and the elderly alone have a normal demand for vitamin D2 of tens of tons every year. With the improvement of people's living standards, the Chinese people's demand for health care products is increasing, and they are eager to improve the human body's immunity through scientific diet to achieve the purpose of health, intelligence and longevity. Many developed countries, such as Japan and the United States, have introduced fortified foods containing vitamin D2 since the 1970s. According to statistics, China's annual demand for vitamin D2 for food and medicine reaches 100 tons. In addition to the demand of feed industry, China's annual demand for vitamin D2 can reach 200 tons. Therefore, vitamin D2 has a good development prospect.
Production and development of vitamin D2
In 1932, Windaus in Germany and Askew in Britain determined the structure of vitamin D2 and identified it as a sterol. Until the early 1950s, Kodicek successfully synthesized a mixture of vitamin D2 and others. On this basis, Suda and others successfully separated the finished product in 1969. The major vitamin D2 manufacturers in the world are BASF, Roche Pharmaceutical, Nissin Chemical, Danochem A/S and Duphar BV. The world's total production capacity is about 1000 tons/year.
Since the 1980s, China has begun to study the production of ergosterol by yeast fermentation and established a manufacturer of vitamin D2. After nearly 20 years of development and exploration, China's vitamin D2 production and research has made certain achievements, but there are still problems such as low production, slow development and backward technology. With the advent of the era of world economic integration, China's vitamin D2 production enterprises should focus on the following points:
First, increase the development of product technology. China's vitamin D2 still has a long way to go in the process of industrial production. The country should choose the right time to set up scientific research institutions, keep track of the development of international vitamin D2 technology, and constantly improve China's production technology level.
Second, accelerate the industrialization process of products. China's vitamin D2 production technology has reached and approached the international advanced level. It is recommended that qualified enterprises prepare to build several sets of vitamin D2 production plants to improve the production capacity of vitamin D2. Chinese scientific research institutions should also proceed from reality and adopt various ways, means or channels of joint venture and cooperation to industrialize this technology as soon as possible and accelerate the industrialization process of vitamin D2 in China, so as to promote the development of China's medicine, food and health care industry.
Third, strengthen macro-control and enterprise self-discipline. At present, the supply of vitamin D2 is in short supply, mainly because the production technology is not very mature, but the market prospect and considerable profits of vitamin D2 have been concerned by many manufacturers. Although the market development space of this product is large, the state must strengthen macro-control, prohibit the construction and production of production devices with small production capacity, backward technology and serious pollution, and strive to achieve a high level Build China's vitamin D2 industry from a high starting point; Enterprises should also strengthen self-discipline and strictly prevent crowding, which will lead to overcapacity and overcapacity, mutual price reduction and mutual killing.
Fourth, increase the development of product applications. Vitamin D2 has a wide range of uses in the field of medicine and health care products. With the improvement of people's living standards, the demand of Chinese people for health care products is increasing. Chinese manufacturers and relevant scientific research institutions should strengthen the development and research of the application of vitamin D2, and can learn from the experience of the United States, Japan and other developed countries to develop food, health care products and feed with vitamin D2.
Fifth, seize the time to occupy the international market. In the next few years, with the improvement of technology, the output of vitamin D2 in China will increase. The continuous expansion of exports is an important way to give full play to the production capacity of vitamin D2 enterprises and relieve the pressure on the domestic market. Key enterprises and export-oriented enterprises should accelerate the implementation of GMP, give full play to the advantages of low raw material cost and low labor price of domestic products, increase the strength of export, increase the export volume, and occupy the international market as soon as possible.