This study investigated the effects of various components [vitamin D3 (VD3), beta-glycerophosphate (BGP), and ascorbic acid (AA)] on the potential of human adipose-derived progenitor cells (ADPCs) to transdifferentiate into osteoblast-like cells. ADPCs were induced under four different supplement groups: (1) VD3 + BGP + AA, (2) VD3 alone, (3) BGP + AA, and (4) no VD3, BGP or AA. Mineralization studies and presence of bone matrix-related proteins by immunostaining showed that the Group I ADPCs showed their ability to undergo osteoblastic differentiation. Further evaluation was made by estimation of levels of RUNX-2 and TAZ genes. Group I ADPCs showed the consistent expression of RUNX-2 and TAZ levels over the study period of 28 days. The study showed good correlation among various parameters evaluated to conclude that ADPCs could be an alternative source for generating osteoblast-like cells. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.