People are known as vitamin D “sunlight”, Vitamin D is an extremely important component for your body, and it plays a key role in bone health, helping the absorption of calcium and bone formation. It also helps in muscle function, nervous and immune systems. When we talk about Vitamin D, we also often hear about vitamin D3. But is there a difference between Vitamin D and D3? Let’s find out …
Vitamin D
Vitamin D-it’s a group of fat-soluble vitamins that help your body absorb calcium and phosphorus from the food you eat, helping you healthy. These minerals are key to create and maintain strong bones and teeth. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle or easily broken.
There are two basic forms of vitamin D:
Vitamin D2 (ergacalcipherol)Vitamin D3 (cholecalzipherol)Both options help increase vitamin D levels in your blood, but they come from different sources and have a few different role in the body.
What is Vitamin D3?
Vitamin D3, also called cholecalcipherol, is a form of vitamin D, which your body produces naturally when your skin is exposed to the sun, in particular, ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. It is also found in some products on animals such as fat, liver and egg yolks.Because vitamin D3 is a form that your body produces naturally, it is considered the most effective type of vitamin D supplement. It enhances and supports vitamin D in the blood better than vitamin D2, and over a long period of time.
Vitamin D2
Vitamin D2, or ergocalcipherol, is made by plants, mushrooms and yeast when exposed to ultraviolet light. It is also found in some fortified products and supplements, such as vegetable sources or fungi.Vitamin D2 is slightly less effective than vitamin D3, and no spike level of vitamin D in the blood is so effective or so long. However, this is still a good option for people who monitor the vegan diet when they cannot consume animal supplements.
As two in the body work
Both Vitamin D2, and D3 – are inactive forms of vitamin D. Once you get vitamin D from sunlight, food or supplements, your body converts it into an active form called Calcitriol. Then this active form travels by your blood and gives you many benefits, for example:Calcium absorption: It helps your gut absorb calcium from food, helping in strong bones and teeth.Bone health: It maintains bone growth and recovery, reducing the risk of fractures and diseases such as rickets in children, as well as astemolation or osteoporosis in adults.Immune System: Vitamin D helps streamline the immune system, which facilitates your body fighting infections.Muscle function: It supports the function of healthy muscles and can help reduce the risk of falling in older adults.Others: Vitamin D can also play a role in heart health, mood regulation and reduced inflammation.
Why is Vitamin D important
Vitamin D deficiency is a common occurrence, especially in places where sunlight is rare or where people spend most of the time indoors. Low vitamin D can cause weak bones, muscle weakness and increase the risk of infection.Getting enough vitamin D is important for:
Children’s growth and bone development
Maintenance of bone strength for adultsSupport a healthy immune systemReduced risk of chronic diseasesWhich app needs to takeBecause vitamin D3 is a form, naturally made by your body and more effectively increases the level of vitamin D in the blood, most doctors recommend vitamin D3 supplements for people who need additional vitamin D.
How to get Vitamin D naturally
You can get Vitamin D C:
Sunlight: Spending about 10-30 minutes in the sun every day (7am – 8am), helps your skin make vitamin D3. You can soak on the morning sun without sunscreen on your hands and feet, but cover your face.Food: fatty fish (such as salmon and mackerel), egg yolks, strengthened milk and cereals provide vitamin D.
Risk factors
Vitamin D is usually safe when taken in the recommended quantities. However, too much vitamin D can cause side effects such as nausea, weakness and kidney problems because it raises calcium levels too high.
