The differences between vitamin D2 and D3 include D2 being plant-based and D3 from animal products and sunlight. D3 often raises vitamin D levels more effectively.
Vitamin D is well-known for supporting bone health. Both vitamins D2 and D3 help the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for building and maintaining strong bones.
Without enough vitamin D, bones can become brittle, thin, and soft, increasing the risk of fractures and conditions like osteoporosis. In children, a prolonged and severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets, a condition that causes soft bones, delayed growth, and pain.
Vitamins D2 and D3 also play important roles in immune function, muscle strength, and the regulation and function of the nervous system.
Vitamin D2 and D3 are types of vitamin D that help maintain or raise vitamin D levels in the blood and treat deficiencies. They have slightly different chemical structures and come from different sources.
Where They’re Formed
Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is primarily produced when ergosterol, a compound found in plants and fungi, is exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) light.
Vitamin D3, on the other hand, is mostly produced by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. This happens when UVB rays from the sun convert a substance in the skin called 7-dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D3 through a series of chemical reactions. You can also find vitamin D3 in animal products like fatty fish, egg yolks, and cheese.
How They’re Processed in the Body
Vitamin D2 and D3 are both well-absorbed in the small intestine, but they’re broken down slightly differently in the liver.
When vitamin D2 is consumed, the liver turns it into 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (ercalcidiol), while vitamin D3 is turned into 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (calcidiol). Together, these compounds are known as calcidiol, the main circulating form of vitamin D and what healthcare providers typically measure when testing vitamin D levels.
Calcidiol is then converted to calcitriol—the fully active form of vitamin D that the body can use—in the kidneys.
Vitamin D3 May Be More Effective at Raising Vitamin D Levels
Research shows that vitamin D3 may be more effective than vitamin D2 at raising circulating vitamin D levels in the blood. A recent review of 24 studies found that, on average, people taking vitamin D3 had 15.69 nanomoles per liter higher vitamin D levels than those taking vitamin D2.
Research also shows that vitamin D3 supplements may help maintain higher vitamin D levels for a longer period than vitamin D2.
The processing of vitamin D2 and D3 in the body can vary from person to person based on age, gender, and ethnicity. Though studies have said vitamin D3 may be more effective than vitamin D2, more research is needed to determine this definitively.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D includes all sources of vitamin D and varies by age. It’s typically measured in international units (IU) or micrograms (mcg), and dosages aren’t broken down by vitamin D type. The recommended amount of daily vitamin D is:
Age
Recommended Amount
Infants under 12 months
400 IU (10 mcg)
Children 1-13 years
600 IU (15 mcg)
Teens 14-18 years
600 IU (15 mcg)
Adults 19-70 years
600 IU (15 mcg)
Adults over age 71
800 IU (20 mcg)
Pregnant and breastfeeding people
600 IU (15 mcg)
Vitamin D deficiency is relatively common, affecting around 10% of people in the United States. A healthcare provider can help you figure out if you need to increase your vitamin D intake.
You can increase your vitamin D intake by eating more vitamin D-rich foods, taking supplements, and spending a few minutes in the sun several times per week. Dietary supplements are usually the most effective treatment for those diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.
You can find vitamin D3 supplements—typically derived from lanolin (an oil from sheep’s wool)—over the counter at most supermarkets and your local pharmacy. If you’re following a vegan diet, vitamin D2 or vegan-friendly vitamin D3 supplements made from lichen (a plant-based organism made of algae and fungi) may be a good alternative.
Before taking any vitamin D supplements, you should talk to your healthcare provider to help determine which supplement is right for you and your ideal intake.
Mushrooms, especially shiitake, maitake, and oyster varieties, are among the few foods that naturally contain vitamin D2. Some mushrooms, like portobello, are treated with UV light to boost their vitamin D2 content.
You can also find sources fortified with vitamin D2. A fortified source has nutrients added to it, which in this case is vitamin D. Some vitamin D2-fortified sources include:
- Fortified milk and plant-based milk: Up to 18% Daily Value (DV) of vitamin D per cup
- Fortified breakfast cereals: Often offer around 10% DV per serving
- Fortified orange juice: Can contain as much as 25% DV per cup
- Supplements: Widely available in liquid, capsule, tablet, or pill form
Sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D3. Other sources that are also relatively high in vitamin D3 include:
- Cod liver oil: 170% Daily Value (DV) of vitamin D
- Trout: 81% DV per 3-ounce serving
- Salmon (sockeye): 71% DV per 3-ounce serving
- Eggs: 6% DV per large scrambled egg
- Beef liver: 5% DV per 3-ounce serving
- Canned tuna: 5% DV per 3-ounce serving
- Supplements: Available in liquid, capsule, tablets, and pill forms
Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D: Fact sheet for professionals.
Bikle DD. Vitamin D and the skin: Physiology and pathophysiology. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2012;13(1):3-19. doi:10.1007/s11154-011-9194-0.
MedlinePlus. Rickets.
MedlinePlus. Vitamin D deficiency.
Restrepo-Valencia CA, Aguirre-Arango JV, Musso CG. Effectiveness of Native Vitamin D Therapy in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3 and Hypovitaminosis D in Colombia, South America. Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2019;12:241-250. doi:10.2147/IJNRD.S214194.
Balachandar R, Pullakhandam R, Kulkarni B, Sachdev HS. Relative Efficacy of Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 in Improving Vitamin D Status: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3328. doi:10.3390/nu13103328.
Tripkovic L, Lambert H, Hart K, Smith CP, Bucca G, Penson S, Chope G, Hyppönen E, Berry J, Vieth R, Lanham-New S. Comparison of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation in raising serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95(6):1357-64. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.031070.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC’s second nutrition report.
U.S. Forest Service. About Lichens.
World Health Organization. Food Fortification.
USDA FoodData Central. 100% Calcium fortified orange juice.
