What Is the Difference Between Vitamins D, D2, and D3?

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How many times have we seen people in a pharmacy looking at the D vitamins. They’re standing on one foot and then the other and wondering which one to purchase. They are not alone. Let’s start with D.

Vitamin D is very important for human health. One of its prime purposes is the absorption of calcium and phosphorus to keep bones healthy and strong. If we develop a deficiency in these two minerals as we age, our bones lose their strength year after year, and we develop a disease called osteoporosis, meaning week bones. This can result in bone fractures, and it may lead to spending time in a wheelchair.

Vitamin D is called the “sunshine vitamin” because it’s the sun’s ultraviolet rays on the skin that trigger the production of vitamin D in the body. The best way to get D is to get out in the sunlight. Exposing your skin to the sun, without sunscreen, for 15 minutes a few times a week, to generate vitamin D is an effective way to maintain bones. You also get D from eating fish, egg yolks, meats and fortified cereals, and from drinking milk and orange juice. If you are on a vegan diet, it’s harder to get D from foods. Vegans need vitamin D supplements.