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Important Differences Between Vitamin D vs D3: Which Form Should You Choose?

At a glance:

  • Vitamin D is an umbrella term that includes multiple forms, most notably vitamin D2 and vitamin D3.
  • Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is the same form your skin produces in response to sunlight.
  • Both D2 and D3 can help increase vitamin D levels, but research suggests D3 may be more effective at raising and maintaining vitamin D status.
  • Vitamin D supports bone, muscle and immune health and helps the body absorb calcium.*
  • Enzymedica® Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K2 pairs 5,000 IU of vegan VegD3® vitamin D3 with 90 mcg of soy-free K2VITAL® vitamin K2 MK-7.*

Vitamin D. Vitamin D3. D2. K2. There are a lot of Ds (and Ks) to keep straight. The good news? The difference between vitamin D and vitamin D3 is actually pretty simple.

Vitamin D is the name for a family of fat-soluble vitamins that play important roles throughout the body, from supporting strong bones and muscles to healthy immune function.* Vitamin D3 is one specific form of vitamin D—and one you’ll commonly find in supplements.

So, vitamin D vs. D3: What’s actually the difference? And what should you look for when choosing a vitamin D supplement? Let’s break it down.

What Is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin. Unlike most nutrients, however, your body has another way to get it besides food: Your skin can produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.

That’s why vitamin D has earned its nickname, the “sunshine vitamin.”

Vitamin D has plenty of jobs once it gets there. It helps your body absorb calcium and supports healthy bones, teeth and muscles.* Vitamin D also plays an important role in healthy immune function.*

There are several forms of vitamin D, but the two you’ll hear about most often are vitamin D2 and vitamin D3.

Vitamin D2 vs. D3: What’s the Difference?

Here’s where things get a little more specific.

Vitamin D2, also called ergocalciferol, is found in some mushrooms and fortified foods and is also available in supplements.

Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is naturally present in certain animal-derived foods. It’s also the form of vitamin D your skin makes when exposed to sunlight.

Both forms can contribute to vitamin D status, but research suggests D3 may raise and maintain circulating vitamin D levels more effectively than D2. That’s one reason D3 is such a popular choice for vitamin D supplements.

And no, choosing D3 doesn’t necessarily mean choosing an animal-derived ingredient anymore.

Can Vitamin D3 Be Vegan?

Yep. Traditionally, supplemental vitamin D3 has often been sourced from lanolin, which comes from sheep’s wool. Today, plant-based options make it possible to get D3 without animal-derived ingredients.

Enzymedica Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K2 uses VegD3®, a vegan D3 sourced from sustainable algae.

That means you get cholecalciferol—the D3 form of vitamin D—in a 100% plant-based formula.*

What Does Vitamin D3 Do?

Vitamin D3 supports some seriously important everyday functions.*

Supports healthy bones*

Calcium tends to get top billing when we talk about bones, but it doesn't work alone. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, helping support strong, healthy bones.*

Supports immune health*

Vitamin D also plays an important role in normal immune function, making adequate vitamin D an important part of overall wellness.*

Supports healthy muscles*

Your muscles need vitamin D for normal function, too. It’s another reason this one nutrient has such a wide-reaching role in the body.*

Where Do You Get Vitamin D?

Sunshine isn't your only option.

Vitamin D occurs naturally in a relatively small number of foods. Sources include:

  • Fatty fish such as salmon, trout, tuna and mackerel
  • Cod liver oil
  • Egg yolks
  • Beef liver
  • Cheese
  • Certain mushrooms
  • Foods fortified with vitamin D, including some dairy products, plant-based milks, cereals and orange juices

Because natural food sources are somewhat limited, fortified foods can make an important contribution to vitamin D intake.

Sun exposure can also contribute to vitamin D status, but how much vitamin D your skin produces varies based on factors including season, time of day, location, skin pigmentation, age and sunscreen use.

That’s where supplements can offer another option for people who want to add vitamin D to their routine.

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

Vitamin D needs vary by age.

The National Institutes of Health recommends an average daily intake of 600 IU (15 mcg) for adults ages 19–70 and 800 IU (20 mcg) for adults ages 71 and older. Individual needs can vary, however, and supplemental needs aren't necessarily the same as the recommended daily dietary intake.

If you're unsure about your vitamin D intake or whether supplementation is right for you, talk to your health-care provider.

Why Take Vitamin D3 With Vitamin K2?

Consider D3 and K2 teammates on Team Bone Health.*

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium.* Vitamin K, meanwhile, is involved in the production of proteins important for normal blood clotting and bone health.

Together, D3 and K2 offer complementary support for healthy bones and proper calcium utilization.*

That complementary relationship is why Enzymedica pairs vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 in one formula.

What Is Vitamin K2?

Like vitamin D, vitamin K comes in more than one form.

Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is found primarily in foods such as leafy green vegetables.

Vitamin K2 refers to a group of compounds known as menaquinones. One form you'll frequently see in supplements is MK-7, which has a long half-life in the body and is valued for its bioavailability.

Enzymedica uses K2VITAL® vitamin K2 MK-7, a plant-derived, soy-free source of K2.

What Makes Enzymedica Vitamin D3 + K2 Different?

Not all D3 + K2 formulas start with the same ingredients.

Enzymedica Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K2 delivers:

5,000 IU VegD3® vitamin D3
Our D3 is sourced from sustainable algae rather than lanolin, making the formula vegan.*

90 mcg K2VITAL® vitamin K2 MK-7
This plant-derived, soy-free form of vitamin K2 complements D3's role in supporting bone health and proper calcium utilization.*

150 mg organic shiitake mushroom powder
Shiitake mushrooms add another whole-food component to this thoughtfully formulated supplement.*

Organic agave inulin
Inulin is a prebiotic fiber that supports a healthy digestive system.*

The result? A vegan D3 + K2 formula designed to support immune and bone health—with carefully chosen forms of two essential vitamins.*

What to Know About Algae-Derived Vitamin D3

Plant-based D3 hasn't always been easy to find.

VegD3® gives Enzymedica a way to deliver cholecalciferol without relying on lanolin. The D3 is derived from algae grown in a controlled environment and provides a plant-based alternative for vegans, vegetarians or anyone who simply prefers to avoid animal-derived ingredients.

It's part of a bigger Enzymedica philosophy: start with high-quality ingredients, then choose forms your body can put to use.*

What to Know About K2VITAL® Vitamin K2 MK-7

Enzymedica's formula doesn't stop at adding “vitamin K.”

It provides 90 mcg of K2VITAL® vitamin K2 as MK-7, a highly bioavailable form of vitamin K2.*

Paired with D3, K2 helps support healthy calcium utilization and bone health.* It's also plant-derived and soy-free, keeping the complete D3 + K2 formula vegan.

How to Take Vitamin D3 + K2

Enzymedica Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K2 provides 5,000 IU (125 mcg) of vitamin D3 and 90 mcg of vitamin K2 per capsule.

Suggested use is one capsule daily with food for adults.

Because this is a high-potency vitamin D formula, talk with your health-care provider about your individual vitamin D needs. Consult a physician prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications or have a medical condition.

Important: If you take a blood-thinning medication or anticoagulant, consult a health-care professional before using a supplement containing vitamin K.

Vitamin D vs. D3: The Bottom Line

So, is vitamin D the same as D3?

D3 is a form of vitamin D. More specifically, it's cholecalciferol—the same form your skin produces in response to sunlight.

While both D2 and D3 can contribute to vitamin D status, D3 has been shown to be particularly effective at raising and maintaining circulating vitamin D levels. And thanks to algae-derived D3, choosing D3 no longer means you have to choose an animal-derived supplement.

Enzymedica takes it one step further by pairing 5,000 IU of vegan VegD3® vitamin D3 with 90 mcg of soy-free K2VITAL® vitamin K2 MK-7 for complementary support for healthy bones and calcium utilization—plus vitamin D's important role in immune health.* The sunshine vitamin just got a plant-based upgrade.*

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