What is the difference between Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3?

You may have heard that there are two different forms of vitamin D — we call them D2 and D3. Vitamin D2 is also known as ergocalciferol and it's a plant-based form of vitamin D. D3 is also known as  cholecalciferol and it's an animal-based form of vitamin D. We get D3 from animal products like fatty fish, egg yolks and butter. That's also the form that your skin and body make when it comes into contact with sunlight. D2 is made by plants. Specifically, it's made in mushrooms when they are exposed to UV light just like the skin. So, if the mushroom is not exposed to UV light, it doesn't create vitamin D2. Vitamin D2 is also easy to manufacture. So, it's often used in supplements and fortification. So which one is better? They're made in different ways but  both are present in supplements and there is a difference in the absorption when they are taken as supplements. D3 seems to be better absorbed than vitamin D2. So, you might need a higher dose of D2 if that's the form you're taking. Also, if you're a vegetarian or a vegan and you want to make sure your vitamin D supplement is vegan, you need to look for a D2 or ergocalciferol or mushrooms. Those are all terms that would indicate that they're from the plant-based form of D2. If that's not a concern for you, D3 is typically better absorbed and widely available.

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