Vitamin D-fortified bread: Systematic review of fortification approaches and clinical studies

Abstract

Vitamin D-fortified bread has been proposed as a strategy to increase the average daily intake and serum status of this nutrient. This review aimed to bring together the different types of scientific articles on vitamin D-fortified bread. The databases used for the research were PUBMED, WEB of SCIENCE and SCOPUS; all original indexed studies written in English, published between January 2000 and March 2021, were considered. Three important points were identified: i) theoretical models of fortification; ii) stability, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability studies of vitamin D-fortified breads; and iii) clinical effects of vitamin D-fortified breads. This review showed that vitamin D-fortified bread is a promising vehicle for fortification strategy effects, leading to increased serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and decreased parathyroid hormone. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the effects and effectiveness of this fortification strategy in the prevention/treatment of vitamin D deficiency.