Supplements 101 | Difference Between vitamin D2 and vit D3 

Read this article to explain the difference between vitamin d2 and vit d3 and their basics including sources and benefits. 

Introduction:

Micro-nutrients like vitamins and minerals are needed by our bodies for normal biological processes happening all the time. These super important nutrients come from the many kinds of food that we eat. Vitamins have a curious property wherein vital chemical compounds our body needs and are generally disregarded to be extremely vital to human health These days, vitamin D is undoubtedly the most talked about health topic, and is for a good reason.

Vitamin deficiencies can happen when a diet is deficient in one particular kind of nutrient. These micronutrients, however, must come from the food we eat because our bodies are unable to generate them (called essential vitamins). In the list of most important vitamins for us, D2 and D3 vitamins hold a special spot. This article explores the two types of vitamin D and focuses on the difference between vitamin d2 and vit d3. Let's dive in:

What is Vitamin D?

Calciferol, another name for vitamin D, is a fat-soluble vitamin that your skin makes when it is exposed to sunshine. In addition to being a prescription drug and dietary supplement, it may be found naturally in some foods or added to others. The body uses vitamin D as a component in several cellular activities. 

Although it is best recognized for maintaining strong bones, it also contributes to immunity, muscular strength, and the body's metabolism of glucose and calcium. Naturally, food is one of the two natural sources of vitamin D. How is sunshine one of the two? Our skin uses sunlight to create vitamins when it is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun.

What is Vitamin D2 and D3?

They are the most common forms of Vitamin D. D1 (ergocalciferol) and D2 (cholecalciferol) are both quite similar but differ from each other in some ways. 

Major Difference between Vitamin D2 and Vit D3 

These two types of vitamin D were once believed to be interchangeable and comparable as both are converted into calcitriol in our bodies. However, with recent research, we know that this is not true as recent findings indicate that D2 is not as efficient as D3 at increasing vitamin D levels and that its duration of action is shorter. Thus, although both can be taken as supplements, vitamin D3 appears to be marginally better than vitamin D2. Let us go through their major differences: 

1. Vitamin D2 is found in plants and yeast while Vitamin D3 comes from animal sources and skin exposure to light (called the sunshine vitamin)

2. Studies suggest that Vitamin D3 may raise vitamin D levels higher and for longer than its counterpart but this doesn't mean D2 is inferior. 

3. In diet, one can get Vit D3 from You can obtain sources such as dairy cheese, organic eggs, fish liver oils, fortified milk and cereals, and fish like trout and salmon. Vit D2 can be obtained from mushrooms, fortified orange juice, and non-dairy milk including oat, almond, and soy.

4.Vitamin D2 appears to be more potent than vitamin D3, this is why doctors prescribe D2 more than D3 for patients. Additionally, if you have chronic kidney disease, the doctor will likely prescribe you Vitamin D2. 

5. Both are effectively absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestine, but there are significant differences in how our bodies metabolize them. Both of them are well absorbed in the gut, and both work well to raise blood levels of vitamin D. 

6. Vitamin D3 has a higher bioactivity than vitamin D2. Moreover, the vitamin D-binding protein, which binds the nutrient and transports it throughout the body to carry out its function, is less strongly bound to vitamin D2 metabolites as compared to D3. 

Wrapping Up:

This wraps up our topic of the difference between vitamin D2 and D3. In conclusion, we can state that these two primary forms of vitamin D serve the same purpose in the body. Although some studies have revealed that D3 is more effective than D2 at boosting vitamin D levels in the body, scientists are unsure which is superior. Plants provide vitamin D2, but animals—including humans—produce vitamin D3.