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While both types help you meet your vitamin D requirements, they differ in a few important ways. Research even suggests that vitamin D2 is less effective than vitamin D3 at raising...
What’s the difference between vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplements? Two doctors explain.
The main difference is that vitamin D2 comes from plants, whereas D3 comes from animals, including people. Scientists are not sure yet if one is better than the other for human health.
There's lots of confusion around the difference between vitamin D2 and vitamin D3, and which is best for whom. Doctors and experts explain.
Generally speaking, the main differences between vitamin D2 and D3 are their source and how the body processes them. Vitamin D2: otherwise known as ergocalciferol, vitamin D2 forms when a compound in fungi (such as mushrooms) called ergosterol reacts with ultraviolet-B (UVB) light from the sun (7).
Vitamin D supplements are available as vitamin D2 (also known as ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (also known as cholecalciferol). Both versions are similar molecules. The main difference is that D2 comes from plants, and D3 comes from animals. Both D2 and D3 will raise your vitamin D levels.
While vitamins D2 and D3 can both help boost vitamin D levels in people with a deficiency, research suggests that vitamin D3 is more efficiently absorbed and utilized by the body and may be better at increasing and maintaining vitamin D levels in the body.
While vitamin D2 and D3 both increase vitamin D in the body, research shows that vitamin D3 is more effective. Vitamin D3 is more easily absorbed by the body and helps sustain healthy vitamin D levels for extended periods.
While both forms of vitamin D raise vitamin D levels in your blood, vitamin D3 might increase it more and for a longer period of time compared to D2. The active form of vitamin D is called 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (also known as calcitriol), and is available with a prescription.
A 2021 review in Clinical Nutrition found that vitamin D can help support better cardiovascular health by helping regulate blood pressure, supporting healthy blood vessel function and reducing inflammation. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium levels in muscle cells, which is crucial for muscle contraction and relaxation.