Truth is we’ve been delaying this article for a while until we had enough information & facts to allow us to enlighten our readers.
Supplements 101: Vitamin D
In your diet, the most commonly found members are vitamin D2 and D3.
Bottom Line.
over the past year. After all, this nutrient is essential to our immune system.
Sadly, That Vitamin D Love (And Money) Can Go To Waste If You’Re Not Taking The Right Form Of Vitamin D. D3 Or D2?
That is the question. Unlike some nutrition queries that are somewhat gray and equivocal in nature, when vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) go head-to-head, the winner is clear. By choosing to share the Olympic gold rather than have a jump-off.
Vitamin D3 and D2 are…nothing like that. To wrap my Olympics nutrition visual: Vitamin D3 is on the middle podium with its anthem playing loud and clear, whereas vitamin D2 didn’t medal at all. Before I get granular on why D3 triumphs over D2, let’s recap why vitamin D should be top of mind in the first plac.
What Are The Main Differences Between Vitamin D And D3?
Rather, your choices will be vitamin D2 (What is vitamin D2?). Or vitamin D3 (What is vitamin D3?). Generally, when one mentions vitamin D, the implied selection is vitamin D2.
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.
The 50,000 IU capsules are prescription only, while lower strengths are available over-the-counter. Vitamin D3 mainly comes from animal sources such as fish oil, fatty fish, liver, and egg yolks.
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?
Ergocalciferol or vitamin D2
Drisdol, Calcidol, Calciferol Cholecalciferol, Vitamin D, Or Vitamin D3
Decara, Dialyvite D3 Max What Form(S) Does The Drug Come In?
Indefinite Indefinite Who Typically Uses The Medication?
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E around the world are deficient in vitamin D and need to be supplemented. Vitamin D is available in medicines and fortified foods. It is available in two forms: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).
Key points: The pharmacopeiae consider these steroid hormones as equivalent and interchangeable. Vitamin D2 has shorter plasma half-life and a lower affinity for the vitamin D binding protein, the hepatic vitamin D hydroxylase and the vitamin D receptor. Currently though, it is still the most used in some countries such as Portugal and Australi.