A new study shows that vitamin D2 may reduce vitamin D3 levels, suggesting D3 is the more effective supplement for immune and overall health.
A new study conducted by the University of Surrey, the John Innes Centre, and the Quadram Institute Bioscience suggests that taking vitamin D2 may actually lower the body’s levels of vitamin D3, which is considered the more effective form of the nutrient.
People use vitamin D supplements to maintain bone strength, support the immune system, and follow the UK government’s advice of 10 micrograms per day.
Vitamin D is available in two main supplement forms: D2 and D3. The researchers observed that when individuals take vitamin D2, it can cause a decline in vitamin D3 levels. Unlike D2, vitamin D3 is the type that the body naturally makes when exposed to sunlight, and it is also the form most efficient at boosting overall vitamin D status.
The findings, published in Nutrition Reviews, are based on an analysis of randomized controlled trials. The results showed that people taking vitamin D2 experienced reduced vitamin D3 levels compared with those who did not take D2 supplements. In several cases, vitamin D3 levels dropped even lower than in the study’s control groups.
