Difference between vitamin D2 and D3

 Everyone needs sufficient vitamin D. But before they complement their diet with this important vitamin, they should know the difference between vitamin D2 and D3. Vitamin D is important for the health of the bones and the function of the immune system. In this article we discuss the topic: Difference difference vitamin D2 and D3

Difference vitamin D and D3

There are two possible forms of vitamin D in the human body: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Both D2 and D3 are simply referred to as "vitamin D". So there is no significant difference between vitamin D3 and simple vitamin D.

The problem with vitamin D production is that our body needs sunlight to form it. Therefore, many people use vitamin preparations and enriched foods to increase their vitamin D levels. This is a clever strategy. But did you know that vitamin D actually consists of several different forms?

Vitamin D2 and vitamin D3

 Vitamin D2 and D3 are the two most important vitamins for their health. Vitamin D2 is produced by plants and Vitamin D3 Is from the skin if you get enough sunlight. Enriched foods can contain both forms. Studies show that vitamin D3 is much more important for our health than vitamin D2. So choose either a vitamin D3 preparation or a preparation that contains both forms in optimal quantities. Vitamin D2 is not enough.

Vitamins D2 and D3 for human health

 Not too long ago, experts believed that vitamins D2 and D3 were equally important for human health, but this was based on outdated studies on rachitis in children. Nowadays we know much more about vitamin D. It is now clear that D3 is much more important and effective for our health and well -being. When you look at how the body absorbs vitamin D, it becomes clear why vitamin D3 is more important. There are many biological processes in the body that influence this. A certain enzyme in the liver ensures that that vitamin D3 is converted into the biologically active form of vitamin D. With vitamin D2, this process takes much longer.

Vitamin D2

Vitamin D2 plants produce this form of vitamin D if they are exposed to ultraviolet light (similar to how our body naturally produces vitamin D). The most common example is forest mushrooms or mushrooms that grow under ultraviolet light. Milk replacement (including soy, coconut and almond milk) is often enriched with vitamin D2.

 

Difference vitamin D2 and D3

 There are two main forms of vitamin D, which are absorbed or supplemented with food: D2 and D3. Both forms contribute to the total vitamin D level in the body. The most important difference between them is that vitamin D2 is obtained from plants, while vitamin D3 comes from animals, typically of fat fish or sheeplanoline, difference vitamin D2 and D3 - more here.

Vitamin D is a sunshine vitamin that is synthesized by the body thanks to the natural light and is essential for our metabolism. We speak of the vitamins D2, D3, D5, D6 and D7, the vitamins D1 and D4 do not exist. Among them are the vitamins D2 and D3 are far the most famous and are most common in everyday life In the form of nutritional supplements used. We differentiate in particular:

• Vitamin D2 or Ergocalciferol, which is produced by plants.
• Vitamin D3 or Cholecalciferol, which is obtained from animal products and certain braids.

Vitamin D3 comes from animals, vitamin D2 of plants

Vitamin D2 sources

• Mushrooms (when contacting UV radiation)
• Foods containing this vitamin (milk, butter, etc.)
• Dietary supplements

Vitamin D3 sources

• Sun (UVB radiation)
• Fat fish/fish oil
• Fish liver
• egg yolk
• butter
• Dietary supplements

Body and vitamin D3

The body can use both forms - but to different degrees. While vitamin D2 for many years as equivalent Vitamin D3 Recent research has been viewed that vitamin D3 could be significantly more effective than vitamin D2. Vitamin D3 is also the shape that our body can use with the help of sunlight - it would be quite plausible that we can use this form particularly well.

History of vitamin D2

While vitamin D2 in Europe is hardly used as an active ingredient in vitamin D preparations, it is still widespread in the United States. The clinically used, highly dosed vitamin D preparations in the USA still contain almost exclusively vitamin D2. In the 1930s, cow's milk with vitamin D2 was long enriched in America and in Europe to contain the rachitis epidemic at that time-with great success. In Europe, however, it soon became up Vitamin D3 20,000 Converted because the indications condensed that this is probably the more effective form of vitamin D. In fact, no difference is still made between the two forms today: an international unit vitamin D2 is still considered equivalent with an IE vitamin D3.

Vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 - what is the difference?

 The main difference between vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 50,000 lies in the way they are metabolized in the body. A study published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism showed that vitamin D3 increases the vitamin D level in the blood twice as effectively as vitamin D2 (1). For this reason, a vitamin D3 supplement is recommended because it optimizes the absorption in the body and offers the best price-performance ratio. A vitamin D3 supplement is also an effective means of increasing calcium intake in the body and promoting the health of the skeleton, to name just a few advantages. The vitamins D2 and D3 are converted into the liver in calcifiediol. This gets into the kidneys and leads to the release of calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D. Vitamin D2 is less stable than Vitamin D3 capsules And reacts more sensitive to moisture and heat. On the other hand, vitamin D3 would increase the calcitriol level in the body more than vitamin D2. Doctors recommend an addition to vitamin D3 because it is better absorbed by the body.

Difference vitamin D2 and D3: D2 comes from vegetable foods such as mushrooms, plants or enriched foods. D3, on the other hand, comes from the ultraviolets rays of the sun and from food origin.

Vitamin D3: A better choice - difference vitamin D2 and D3

Although both forms of vitamin D make an almost equivalent contribution, several studies show that the researcher Laura Tripkovic is that the D3 form is better choice.

 

Vitamin D2 and D3 -D2 or D3

You now know that the human body needs two types of vitamin D and can easily orientate yourself on the labels of your vitamin preparations or vitamin -enriched foods. Food such as milk exchangers, orange juice and breakfast flakes are often enriched with vitamin D. Pay attention to the balance of vitamins D2 and D3 to ensure that you eat enough D3. If you take medication that contain vitamin D, you should ask your doctor before taking nutritional supplements. Most vitamin D preparations mainly contain vitamin D3. Make sure that you do not use a preparation that only contains D2. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, choose a D3 preparation that is not based on animal products.