There are two forms of vitamin D in the body – D2 and D3: their empirical chemical formulae differ by a single carbon atom. We get them from different sources: D2 is found primarily in plant-based foods, while D3 is obtained from animal-origin foods, and is also produced when our skin is exposed to the sun’s rays.
Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is synthesised from a sterol (complex lipid) called 7-dehydrocholesterol, naturally present in the body. When this sterol is exposed to the sun’s UVB rays, it is converted into vitamin D. Most of the vitamin D circulating in the body is produced in this way (1). That’s why we’re advised to expose our skin as much as possible to natural light. Vitamin D3 is also obtained from the diet, in particular from oily fish and egg yolk.
Vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol, is a derivative of ergosterol, a sterol naturally present in the cell membranes of certain plants and fungi. Vitamin D2 is obtained by exposing ergosterol to the sun’s UVB rays. It is found in mushrooms (especially those exposed to UVB rays) as well as in vitamin D-fortified foods like margarine.
Vitamins D2 and D3 are both metabolised in the liver into calcifediol and then converted in the kidneys into calcitriol, the active and usable form of vitamin D (2). However, research has shown that vitamin D3 increases the level of calcitriol in the body to a greater degree (3). It is also less sensitive to heat and humidity than D2 and thus more stable (4).
As a consequence, if you wish to take a vitamin D supplement, vitamin D3 is the better choice. You have three options to choose from:
References
21 Days
Reliable delivery. Good product.
Viva
34 Days
Great service
cl
36 Days
Received product promptly and its early days but seems to have improved my daughters alertness.
Anandi
46 Days
Amazing, great product!
ALEX Sinclair
49 Days
Good products and Swift handling
Trusted
54 Days
I trust the company's products, the quality is trustworthy and the speed of delivery is also appreciated.
NAJIB Malaah
54 Days
This company is serious when it comes to serving it's customers. They are fast to send out the orders. Their site is great and easy. Also, they treat their return customers with great deals and discounts. Keep up the good work.
ABDULQADER Jehad
56 Days
I know frech ( level 3 of 6) and can read your messages, but since order are official documents I'd like to have this in english. Merci Ursula Mathes
Ursula Mathes
59 Days
Box was intact, content correct but delivery time was 12 days. I started to worry!
VIITANEN Esa
62 Days
The company has provided the required product efficiently with no complications.
OldBear
63 Days
Supersmart sell a lot of interesting stuff. More than jut the usual vitamins though they do all those as well. Ordering pretty straightforward - you may need to try a couple of times to get the offers to apply but they do work. I queried something and had a fairly quick sensible reply. Postage takes a couple if days but you do get good progress information. Very well packed. Bought from Supersmart a few times and will do so again.
AT Griffin
17 Days
On m'a mis bien.
cliente
20 Days
qualité des produits et services
denis riegel
21 Days
Nehme das Produkt noch zu kurz um eine Bewertung abgeben zu können
Ermelinde
22 Days
J'apprécie la facilité de navigation sur le site, le suivi des commandes, et bien sûr, la qualité des compléments alimentaires.
LE COUR SERGE