Vitamin D3 vs. Vitamin D2 (supplementation)

[gh0stmAn]

I have been taking Vitamin D3 supplements (200%-400% D.V. a day) from 'GNC' (the retail store) for the past couple months along with; Chelated Magnesium Glycinate (in form of amino acid chelate) and 22mg of Zinc Picolinate (for the past 2 weeks at night to help with insomnia and its also mag and zinc are good for you.) The magnesium and zinc are made by a good brand i ordered off internet, the brand is called 'Solgar." They make great quality supplements.


So I was just wondering does Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol form) absorb into the human body b/c i read on wikiepdia: "Cholecalciferol (sometimes called calciol) is an inactive, unhydroxylated form of vitamin D3..)" Does that mean it doesn't absorb when taken as a supplement in oral pill form? Because I can't find anywhere on the net that says either or..

Should I be using the 'Vitamin D2' form? I think i read somewhere that it absorbs better or are vitamin D3 and D2 different? I know you get both from the sun light but sense its turning winter now I won't be getting much sunlight and heard its good supplement with vitamin D (D3, D2?) during the winter... So anyone know if I should just be taking vit. D2 or vit. D3 or both?

Thanks.

 

[Foreigner]

Vitamin D3 absorbs, don't worry about it. It's just not the final stage. Once your body absorbs cholecalciferol, it goes to the kidneys where it is processed into a useable form.

 

[Maya]

Hi OP I found this article that might be of interest to you:

http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/89/11/5387.full

Serum calciferol concentrations were measured at d 0, 1, and 3. Baseline values of both calciferols were low, with the D3 concentration higher than the D2, as would be expected. However, the rise by d 1 was essentially identical for both calciferols, and at d 3 the serum levels of the two had fallen close to baseline and were virtually identical. This behavior indicates that absorption of the two calciferols was approximately equivalent.