We’re frequently asked in our comment section about: vitamin d3 is it the same as vitamin d. Truth is we’ve been delaying this article for a while until we had enough information & facts to allow us to enlighten our readers.
What Is Vitamin D?
One of the main roles of vitamin D is promoting calcium absorption, which allows for proper bone mineralization and growth.
What’S The Difference Between Vitamin D And Vitamin D3?
There are two possible forms of vitamin D in the human body: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Both D2 and D3 are simply called “vitamin D,” so there’s no meaningful difference between vitamin D3 and just vitamin D.
That being said, it can be worth understanding how vitamin D2 and D3 specifically are different from each other—so here’s a quick rundown:
Vitamin D3 is the form of vitamin D the human body makes when sunlight strikes the skin.
Vitamin D2 primarily comes from plant sources (like wild mushrooms), and forms when certain kinds of plants are exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun. However, high doses of vitamin D2 (up to 50,000 IUs, or International Units) are only available through a prescription. Recent studies involving daily doses of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 show that they are equally effective in boosting your vitamin D levels.
Thus, the type of vitamin D you get is less important than getting the right dose and making sure your levels are in the right range to avoid deficiency. If you want to see what your vitamin D levels are like, take the Everlywell Vitamin D Test—an easy at-home option that lets you conveniently collect a sample at home and send it to a lab for accurate testing (a prepaid shipping label is included with the kit). Accessed February 15, 2021.
Nair R, Maseeh A. Vitamin D: The “sunshine” vitamin. Vitamin D2 vs. D3: Which Should I Take for Bone Health?. Cleveland Clinic.
Accessed February 15, 2021.
What Are The Main Differences Between Vitamin D And D3?
The term vitamin D is kind of a misnomer because you will not find anything labeled simply as “vitamin D” in a pharmacy vitamin aisle. For the purpose of this article, when vitamin D is mentioned, it will refer to vitamin D2.
The names can be confusing, because many times, patients go into the pharmacy looking for vitamin D and are surprised that there is a D2 and a D3. Its strength is typically measured in international units, which is abbreviated as “IU” on labeling. Vitamin D3 mainly comes from animal sources such as fish oil, fatty fish, liver, and egg yolks.
All forms of vitamin D3 are available over-the-counter.
Main Differences Between Vitamin D And D3 Vitamin D2 Vitamin D3 Drug Class Vitamin D Analog Vitamin D Analog Brand/Generic Status Brand And Generic Available Brand And Generic Available What Is The Generic Name?
What Is The Brand Name?
Indefinite Indefinite Who Typically Uses The Medication?
Infants, children, adolescents, and adults Infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
Supplements 101: Vitamin D
In your diet, the most commonly found members are vitamin D2 and D3.