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Q: What is the difference between vitamin D & vitamin D3?
Hi Jack: Vitamin D2 is the form of D that is found in fortified foods like milk, juices or cereals and D3 is the form that is synthesized by the skin when it's exposed to the sun or (ultraviolet light/UVB). D2 (ergocalciferol) can be found, in some plants/fungus. D3 (cholecalciferol) is the sunlight form, and can also be obtained from animals that manufactured it through their skin, like that in fish liver. Since the body can produce this it's actually considered a hormone and not a vitamin. D regulates calcium and phosphorus in the body.
Some feel that D3 is more effective in humans than D2. D3 can be obtained after 10-15 minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) and is recommended 3-4 times a week. For those that can't get this sun exposure, supplements are a recommended substitute. The current RDA on D3 is 1,000 IU's a day for those over the age of 20.
I hope that helps.
Hi the-copper, vitamin D comes in D2 and D3. The supplement you are getting from Costco is fine to take. See my answer on your other post about the difference between D2 and D3.
Good luck...
I did read your reply but am still confused just alittle, I have
been getting D3 gel vitamin pills but am just wondering if
the regular D gel vitamin pills is the same. I am taking the 1000 IU type.
I did not even know about D2 until I read this. I have also
been seeing and hearing that it might be wise to take 5000
IU instead of 1000 IU. I have been tested at my doctors office
for vit D but not sure if it was a 25 hyrdroxvitamin D test done
but sounds like you take vit d or I am not sure if you take vit d3 for 2-3
months and then get yourself tested to see how many IUs you
take. I am not sure the level of IUs you take during the 2-3 month
before you get yourself tested also. If you know the answer to
any of these questions, please let me know. thanks.
Hi Iris, I'm not sure I totally understand your question, so if I get something wrong just post again to correct me. Some Dr.'s will ask you to stop your vitamin D intake prior to a 25 (OH) D test (the one you mentioned above), and some won't. For this reason, you need to ask the Dr. what you should do; i.e. fast from D before the test or not. If you don't have to fast then take what you've normally been taking per day.
If you are asking how to tell the difference between D2 and D3 on labels, you would look for the wording that will explain this. D2 will say "from/as ergocalciferol" and D3 will say "from/as cholecalciferol."
Once you find out what your vitamin D score is, then the Dr. will be able to tell you how much you need to take each day. You are correct, some D researchers believe that the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is really low, and some will go with the RDA which is 1,000 IUs a day for those over 50, 800 IUs for those under 50. This will depend on your Dr. and how you do on a particular dose. You should retest your D every 3-4 months to see how you are doing on the dose that is prescribed after you receive your first baseline score.
Good luck and if you have another question just post again.
thank you for comments. I guess what I am trying to find is the wording on bottles for just buying Vit D gel tablets versus buying Vit D3 gel tablets. So the question is, which do you suggest taking? And Why. I can find both in 1000 IU but not sure why I would want one over the other. One health food store suggested getting the Vit D3 one so that is the one I have used. I did take the vit d testing in my doctors office and they suggested the vit D 1000 IU to take. I usually get tested about every 3 months in my doctors office too. I became interested in wondering if I should actually take the 5000 IU since I have heard from a number of sources they are suggesting that you take that amount. I am going to approach the doctor when I go for more testing about this. Not sure he will really know the answer to this one, so I thought I might ask you what you know and what you would do. thanks from iris for replying.
Hi Iris, I get what you are asking because I too wasn't sure which would be better........Vitiamn D-3 or Vitiamn D..........JUST Vitiamn D WITHOUT the 3.
What is the difference? I don't think Pam understands what you are asking.
I too am confused.
Hi, Sorry for the delay we are having some intermittent posting problems. There are 2 kinds of D. D2 and D3. If it just says D with no number after the letter D, look at the bottle and see if it says: from ergocalciferol which is (D2) or cholecalciferol which is (D3), it will say one or the other somewhere on the bottle.
D3 is the recommended form to take because it's the active form and it works better.
I hope that answers your question.
Good luck...
yes, that makes it very clear. How to tell which D you are buying.
Thankyou very much
And Dr. Oz did recomend D3 on his show.
why do you keep refering to D2? I have D and on this bottle it says, D as cholecalcferol. D3 I understand it is the D from the sun in gel form. But I have never seen D2
why is D sold and prescribed??
Hi Dick, welcome! Cholecalciferol is D3. D2 is Ergocalciferol.
If your vitamin bottle says vitamin D from cholecalciferol then it is D3. If the bottle indicates vitamin D from ergocalciferol then that is D2.
The next time you're in a vitamin store look at some of the bottles of vitamin D and you'll see that it comes in two different forms.
You want to take D3, since it's the biologically active form of D.
I realized this topic is confusing and the fact that vitamin D comes in two different forms makes it even more confusing.
Here's an explanation from the Mayo Clinic on the two different types of D available. Maybe this article will help to explain this horrible confusing topic.
Here's an article from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on the case against D2 supplementation. I hope this clears up the confusion over D2 and D3.
Best of luck to you!
Hi Dick, I forgot to mention something that is important. Many fortified foods use D2 not D3, so I'm no longer using them as a good source of vitamin D.
The brand of yogurt I eat - Activia - is fortified with D2
The brand of almond milk - Almond Breeze by Blue Diamond - also has D2.
I've been on the lookout for the two things above that are fortified with D3 instead of D2, when I find a brand with D3 I'll let you know.
Also, check your multiple vitamin to see which form is used. The one I have has D2, so I'm switching to another brand with D3 as soon as I can find it. You may be one of the lucky ones who is finding D3 in your fortified foods or multiple vitamins, I hope so! Since I only want D3 I have to read all the labels!
Take Care!
Dick when you're D deficient, the Dr. will prescribe a large dose that comes in rx form. Some pharmacies have D3 for this, but most don't. So if your Dr. rx's a large dose of D via an injection or oral tab, be sure it's the D3 form since D3 it's not universally available in rx form in. Most pharmacies only carry D2 in the prescribed form which is usually around 50,000-150,000 IUs per dose of D2.
Hi BB, I'm still looking for brands of food with D3, no luck so far. I'll let you know when I find something.
Take Care
CORRECTION.... Above age listed for those who should take 1,000 IUs of D daily, is for those over 50 NOT 20.
Thanks for this answer did not know that there was a D2 vitamin. My question is what should be taken? Most doctors just say take Vitamin D then you get the store and see all types. I think I am on vitamin D3 because I had my thyroid removed and I was low and it was mentioned that because I live in MI and we don't get as much sun here especially in the winter time that can cause most women in this area to be low. But now that I am over 40 and I need to be concerned with calicum and the sun which do I take? Is it safe to buy them all then mix them? HELP!
I just want to know if Vit D3 is ok to take instead of D.
I happen to have D3 here at home. Dr wants me to take Vit D.
So which one is best...no need for long explanation.
Hi Marilou, welcome... yes D3 if preferred over D2, so you can go ahead and take that. D3 is the form that is available from the sun and is available in supplement form.
Good luck...
Let me ask this a different way.
There are, Vit D
Vit D2
Vit D3
Correct so far?
Ok. My Dr said she wants me to take VIT D.
So when she says Vit D.....am I getting what she wants me to have by taking the D3 ???
I am NOT talking about D2.
Thanks.
Hi again, sorry we're having trouble understanding eachother. 
You asked:
"So when she says Vit D.....am I getting what she wants me to have by taking the D3 ???
The answer to this is Yes, vitamin D3 is the preferred form of D. Let me try to explain one more time about vitamin D
Vitamin D comes in 2 forms. D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). When your vitamin bottle says vitamin D on it with (no number listed) it can be either D2 or D3, even though the number is omitted. If a bottle says D3 then it's D3. The way to tell the difference between these two is to look for the words "ergocalciferol" which is D2 or "cholecalciferol" which is D3. Supplemental vitamin D is one or the other of these two forms.
To verify this, look at your D3 bottle and it will say somewhere on that bottle "D3 as/in the form of cholecalciferol."
I hope that clears this up, but if not just let me know. Your D3 is what your Dr. wants you to take.
Good luck.
Hey Marilou, Happy Memorial Day!! Just wondered if my answer finally cleared up the question about the difference between the two types of D?
Good luck...
It's important to realize that your body can produce up to 20,000 IUs of vitamin D3 within minutes from exposure to UV light with NO sunscreen. You will never overdose on vitamin D3 from exposure to UV light. For most, winter sun is not strong enough to produce vitamin D.
Most indoor sun tanning machines are an inexpensive alternative during non summer months to get vitamin D organically via UV exposure. Your body can produce up to 20,000 IUs during one session on an indoor suntanning machine.
Some dermatologists offer UVB light therapy for various skin conditions which your insurance may cover, but you will still be responsible for your deductible. Your body can produce up to 20,000 IUs using this method.
After exposure to UV, showering & bathing can remove the vitamin D that forms on the surface of your skin before it has a chance to get absorbed. Use soap and water sparringly if you want to increase your vitamin D levels.
I've been reading all your D, D2, D3 questions and comments and I see why Iris was confused. When I was younger we never heard of anything except Vitamin D. Now all of a sudden my doctor also has me taking D3. I am soon to be 70 years old. In the past taking D was as a tonic vitamin. I was actually able to get pregnant when taking it. But it wasn't said to be taken for the bones which D3 seems to be. So can a person take BOTH?
I have a progressive form of Multiple Sclerosis that was diagnosised 4 years ago. I'm 45 and a RN. When my Vit. D levels were checked 4 years, they were in the single digits. I was put on 50,000 units a week for several months then two thousand units twice a day since. There have been studies done conderning the ms and the direct link to severe Vit d defiency.
My Neurologist says in my case,"I can not" be in the sun due to severely damaged nerve endings, (My head is really bad),
D3 is the best and ONLY D vitamin to take. After the past 4 years with him, I've placed myself in his hands. What he tells me - I don't question.
Hi Razor, welcome! We're glad you have a Dr. guiding you on your vitamin D since there are many people who can't go into the sun to get their vitamin D.
Personally I used to do this until I started getting many brown spots from the sun. Luckily they aren't cancer but they are NOT attractive and I don't want these all over my face, arms etc. I understand why you can't do this either.
Take care of your other medical issues and do what is best for YOU.
I am a health professional and i would recommend that people get tested.. I was tested and was told that since i was at 27 then 50 then 24 the 31 that I needed more Vitamin d3. My doctor wants to see my score at 80 to 100. I am currently taking 20K milligrams of D a day to bring it up. I have many reasons to take this much and know that a person would have to eat seal liver which is in the millions of milligrams to die from too much D. I have a great Cd on Vitamin d3 contact me if you would like a copy.
Kathy
I am a health professional and i would recommend that people get tested.. I was tested and was told that since i was at 27 then 50 then 24 the 31 that I needed more Vitamin d3. My doctor wants to see my score at 80 to 100. I am currently taking 20K milligrams of D a day to bring it up. I have many reasons to take this much and know that a person would have to eat seal liver which is in the millions of milligrams to die from too much D. I have a great Cd on Vitamin d3 contact me if you would like a copy.
Kathy
Hi Kathy, I'd like to get a copy of your CD. Is it possible to get it in digital download? Thank you!
I just started taking vitamin D3 yesterday and am glad to hear that it's okay to take 5000IUs since there's conflicting info onthe toxicity levels. I'm scheduling an appointment with my doctor to check all my vitamin and hormone levels and so glad to be living in this day and age of abundant information and sharing
Healthy & Happy
you can order from sunnyside health Center in clackamus oregon ..I think it is $19.95 .not on digital download
or if you like you can email me
my phone is 321 288 2308.. I might be able to help..
Thank you!
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My Doctor said I was low in "vitamin d" Ive been taking Costco Vitamin D3. Is that the same as regular Vitamin D that my Doctor wants me to take?
dennis d
the-copper@dslextreme.com