Grant: Engage Grants Program

The collaborative research project between the Nutriva Group and researchers at Thompson Rivers University will investigate the most effective means of naturally enriching the fat soluble vitamin content, particularly vitamin D2, of milk and eggs for use in the development of enriched products for the functional food market. Advancements in medical science towards understanding disease development continually underscore the interaction between dietary micro nutrients, such as fat soluble vitamins, and disease risk management. Prevalence of various cancers and metabolic diseases in western society highlight the need to address the potential for disease mitigation in the foods we eat. Fat soluble vitamins are widely recognized as antioxidants and have been associated with reducing the risk of developing a number of diseases including some forms of cancer, osteoporosis and metabolic syndrome; and serve important physiological functions including cell division and gene expression. This study will investigate milk and eggs from animals fed diets with the specific aim of naturally raising the fat soluble vitamin content. For cows, a microencapsulated form of vitamin D will be tested against a non-microencapsulated form to determine differences in absorption and transference to milk. Laying hen diets will include increasing levels of vitamin D with the intent of achieving 600 IU vitamin D in the eggs. Interaction effects in relation to the described treatments and levels of other fat soluble vitamins in the products will also be investigated. Using HPLC equipped with diode array detection, researchers at TRU will develop methodology to analyze the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) in milk and egg products produced by Nutriva Group's and marketed under the brand name Vitala Foods. The Nutriva Group is located in Abbotsford, BC and has been dedicated to the development of naturally enriched nutritive products since 2008. Products include omega-3 and vitamin D enriched eggs as well as a range of locally produced and traceable milk products. The industrial partner is currently interested in diversifying its portfolio by developing naturally enriched vitamin products that are focused at addressing nutrition deficiencies in at risk populations.