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Vitamin D is the group. Vitamin D3 is a member of the group. Vitamin D2 is another member of the group. However, in typical layman's terms, when someone says you should take Vitamin D supplements, they mean D3. And when someone says you don't need any supplementation because you're getting enough from sunlight, they're referring to D3.
D3 is cholocalciferol, D2 is ergocalciferol. D is a group of secosteroids. A secosteroid is a steroid molecule with 2 of the 4 B-ring carbon atoms unconnected.
Recent research indicates that supplemental D2 provides the same effect as D3. So either one should be OK. Unfortunately some marketers are not identifying the specific form of D in their supplement.
My doctor told me how much vitamin d I need to take a day (2000 IU). I couldn't tell you if this number is based on my age or if this is a standard amount.
D2 is vegetarian-sourced; D3 (cholecalciferol) is from fish oil or lanolin (sheep's wool). D3 is generally considered to have better absorption. And, as stated above, the form your body makes from sunlight.
There are actually around 20 forms of vitamin D. The main ones we are interested in though are vitamins D2, inactive D3 and active D3.
Vitamin D2 is derived externally from plants and from milk that has vitamin D added. This is an inactive form of vitamin D.
Vitamin D2 is transported to the liver where it is converted to inactive D3 provided the liver is functioning properly.
From the liver the inactive vitamin D3 is transported to the kidneys where if functioning properly the kidneys convert the inactive vitamin D3 in to active D3.
The vitamin D3 supplements being sold are inactive D3 since the raw material is considerably cheaper than active D3.
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D2 vs D3
