Vitamin D2 and D3
Phil, Pharmacy Manager
I was recently asked what the difference is between vitamin D2 and D3. Vitamin D has become very popular over the last few years and is also being added to fortify some of our food. Most of us are deficient in it since a lot of us don’t get enough vitamin D from our diet, multivitamin, or from the sun. Research has shown several benefits of vitamin D, including preventing some chronic diseases. This research suggests an adult dose of 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D.
A prescription vitamin D 50,000 IU is one of our top medications we dispense. Some people require this really high dose once a week for a few months to get their levels up to a recommended level. This would be monitored by your doctor.
When you are choosing an over the counter vitamin D supplement, I would recommend vitamin D3. It is thought to be more potent, but Vitamin D2 is still effective. The big difference between the 2 forms is where it is made. Vitamin D2 is made from plants and vitamin D3 is made in our bodies. When vitamin D is used in vitamins, or when it is added to food, it is made by the manufacture in a lab.
For a great article on vitamin D and the research that has been done on it, please go to MedlinePlus at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/929.html. As discussed in a previous post, this is a great website for health topics, drugs, and dietary supplements.