There are quite a few differences between vitamin D and vitamin D3, but the main difference between them is that vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that regulates calcium and phosphorous levels in the body, whereas the vitamin D3 is the natural form of vitamin D produced by the body from sunlight.
Two forms of vitamin D are available in supplements: vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. Both can help correct vitamin D deficiency, but most doctors recommend D3 because it is slightly more active and therefore slightly more effective. Vitamin D3 is naturally produced by animals, including humans. Vitamin D2 is the plant form.
What's the difference between vitamin D and vitamin D3? There are two possible forms of vitamin D in the human body: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Both D2 and D3 are simply called “vitamin D,” so there's no meaningful difference between vitamin D3 and just vitamin D.
It is important for bone and muscle strength and immune function, and it may have other benefits such as helping prevent inflammatory disease. There are two types; vitamin D3 is more efficient in terms of how it can be used in the body than vitamin D2.
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared the effects of vitamin D2 and D3 supplements on blood levels found that D3 supplements tended to raise blood concentrations of the vitamin more and sustained those levels longer than D2. [76,77] Some experts cite vitamin D3 as the preferred form as it is ...
You should not use cholecalciferol if you have had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have: high levels of vitamin D in your body (hypervitaminosis D); high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia); or. any condition that makes it hard for your body to absorb nutrients from food (malabsorption).
Taken in appropriate doses, vitamin D is generally considered safe. However, taking too much vitamin D in the form of supplements can be harmful. Children age 9 years and older, adults, and pregnant and breastfeeding women who take more than 4,000 IU a day of vitamin D might experience: Nausea and vomiting.
Strengthens Bones
Vitamin D3 aids in the management and absorption of calcium, as well as being essential to your bones (and teeth). Calcium is the most common mineral in the body. The majority of this element is found in our bones and teeth.
“Vitamin D can have a positive impact,” says Dr. Deal. “If you're healthy and aren't getting treatment for any medical problems, you don't have to worry about starting supplements. But if you are now taking supplements, be sure to get your vitamin D levels checked before stopping.”
In conclusion, vitamin D3 can be taken as a prophylactic drug for hypertension by the elderly and obese folks with vitamin D deficiency who are at high risk of hypertension. Vitamin D3 can be used as an adjuvant drug to control the blood pressure on hypertension patients with vitamin D deficiency.
There's no set time of day that's best to take vitamin D supplements. Some people say taking vitamin D supplements at night is an insomnia risk. There's no research to confirm this, but you might want to take your supplement earlier in the day if you think it's screwing with your sleep.
In conclusion, our study shows that a single dose of oral 100,000 IE vitamin D3 is an effective, well-tolerated, and economical treatment strategy for healthy adults who report fatigue.
Is too much vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) harmful? Yes, having vitamin D levels that are too high in your body can lead to high blood levels of calcium. This can be harmful to your kidneys and cause side effects, such as nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, and kidney stones.
Vitamin D and sleep: The surprising connection
Early research suggests it is inversely related to melatonin, your sleep hormone. Increasing vitamin D levels may suppress melatonin levels. So, it makes sense that taking it at night could disrupt your sleep.
There's been some buzz suggesting a link between supplementing with vitamin D before bedtime and the ability to drift off to dreamland. Some studies have shown that vitamin D is connected to the production of melatonin, which regulates circadian rhythm and drives sleep.
Serious side effects of Vitamin D3
Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
“Adding an over-the-counter vitamin D supplement can make improvements in just three to four months time.
The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is a buildup of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. Vitamin D toxicity might progress to bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones.
Vitamin D is necessary for our health, especially our bone health and immune system. While it is possible to take enough vitamin D once a week to keep yourself balanced, the best results were found to be a lower dose (1,000-2,000 IUs or 25-50 mcg ) taken daily.
Vitamin D undergoes further chemical changes, first in the liver and then in the kidneys, to become calcitriol. Calcitriol acts on the intestine, kidneys, and bones to maintain normal levels of blood calcium and phosphorus.
High doses of vitamin D can raise blood levels of calcium (hypercalcemia), which can damage the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels.