Vitamin D2 vs. Vitamin D3

The two forms of vitamin D differ depending on their food sources. Vitamin D3 is only found in animal-sourced foods, whereas D2 mainly comes from plant sources and fortified foods. Since vitamin D2 is cheaper to produce, it's the most common form in fortified foods.

1. Why do doctors prescribe vitamin D2 instead of D3?
2. Is vitamin D2 the same as vitamin D3?
3. Why is vitamin D3 better than vitamin D2?
4. Which vitamin D is best?

Why do doctors prescribe vitamin D2 instead of D3?

Vitamin D2 is indicated for rickets, hypoparathyroidism, and familial hypophosphatemia. In contrast, vitamin D3 is indicated for dietary supplementation (use as a vitamin).

Is vitamin D2 the same as vitamin D3?

Vitamin D2 and D3 are both widely used vitamin D supplements but are not the same. Vitamin D2 is ergocalciferol and comes from plant-based sources. Vitamin D3 is cholecalciferol and comes from animal-based sources.

Why is vitamin D3 better than vitamin D2?

Vitamin D3 may be less toxic than D2 because higher concentrations of D2 circulate in the blood when consumed (compared to vitamin D3). It does not bind as well to the receptors in the human tissues compared to vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is the more potent form of vitamin D, which is a potential benefit.

Which vitamin D is best?

The recommended form of vitamin D is vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol. This is the natural form of vitamin D that your body makes from sunlight. Supplements are made from the fat of lambs' wool. However, a clinical study reported in 2008 suggested that vitamin D2 works as well as vitamin D3.