Vitamin D vs. Vitamin D3: Which One Do You Need?

Whether your doctor has diagnosed you with a Vitamin D deficiency or you just want to ensure you have all of this vital vitamin that you need, you might have struggled to find straight Vitamin D on the market. Instead, you might have found Vitamin D2 or Vitamin D3. So, what’s the difference, and which one do you need? Let’s explore.

Vitamin D vs. Vitamin D3

What we typically refer to as Vitamin D is labeled as Vitamin D2 in supplements. So, when we talk about Vitamin D vs. Vitamin D3, we’re really talking about Vitamin D2 vs. Vitamin D3.

Confused? Don’t be. Here’s a quick breakdown of these two types of vitamin D.

What is Vitamin D(2)?

This form of Vitamin D comes from plant sources(primarily mushrooms) and fortified foods. It’s often added to cereal, milk, juice, and other foods you might see at a grocery store. Vitamin D2’s strength is typically measured in IU, which stands for international units. You can generally find strengths below 50,000 IU on the shelves, while 50,000 IU Vitamin D is only available by prescription. Compared to Vitamin D3, Vitamin D2 is relatively inexpensive to produce, which is why it is the form used to fortify foods.

What is Vitamin D3?

This is the form of Vitamin D that our bodies naturally make when exposed to direct sunlight, which is why you might hear it called the “sunshine vitamin.” It can also come from animal sources, like egg yolks, fatty fish, milk, and fish oil. Like Vitamin D2, Vitamin D3 is measured in international units. You can typically find Vitamin D3 over the counter in all strengths.

What Does Vitamin D3 Do?

One of the main things vitamin D3 does is promote calcium absorption in your gut, which is critical for healthy bone growth and development. Without enough vitamin D, your bones can become brittle and thin, leading to severe conditions such as rickets in children and osteomalacia (which causes soft bones more prone to breaking) in adults. Adults who lack vitamin D could also end up with osteoporosis.

Which is Better, Vitamin D2 or Vitamin D3?

While both vitamin Ds play similar roles in your overall health, you are more likely to naturally get vitamin D3 from the foods you eat and direct sunlight exposure. Additionally, you’ll get more vitamin D3 into your bloodstream, which will circulate around your body for longer than vitamin D2.

Improve Your Vitamin D3 Health

The easiest way to find out if you are getting enough vitamin D3 is by taking a simple test, like that from My Labs for Life, which tests your levels of vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. If you need more vitamin D, don’t worry–there are several easy ways to boost your vitamin D supply. One is through supplementation. You can easily find vitamin D3 supplements online.

Additionally, you may consider red light therapy. While the treatment itself won’t produce vitamin D, research has shown that red light therapy can increase the thickness of your skin’s epidermal layer, making more cells available to naturally produce vitamin D when exposed to UV light. You can enjoy the many benefits of red light therapy from home with a product like DNA Vibe, which provides red light therapy treatment whenever and wherever you need it.

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