You might want to read your supplement label a little more carefully: Not all types of vitamin D are equal, a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests.
As these findings suggest, though, that might not be the case: People who take supplements containing vitamin D3, or consume it through fish or eggs may be more effectively raising their D levels than those taking vitamin D2 supplements, or eating D2-heavy foods like mushrooms or fortified bread, study author Laura Tripkovic, Ph.D., said in a statement. (Bored with eggs? Try this scrambled egg pizza to mix it up.)
The differences between the two forms of vitamin D may come down to how they bind to molecules in your body, the study authors believe. It may also be because D2 has a shorter half-life than D3, meaning it may not stay as potent for as long.
Now, the study was done in women, so it’s not clear yet if the same results would hold true in men.
Still, the findings suggest that you may be selling yourself short if you’re relying on D2 supplements or foods to boost your levels. And that’s a problem, since low levels of vitamin D can cause a bunch of health issues—it’s been linked to conditions like depression, dementia, and more severe heart disease.
Source: Vitamin D3 May Be the More Effective Form Of the Supplement
