Dangerous Vitamin D Supplement Mistake

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Drisdol is the synthetic form of vitamin D2; the form of vitamin D typically prescribed by doctors.

But this is not the type produced by your body in response to sun or safe tanning bed exposure.

A recent meta-analysis by the Cochrane Database looked at mortality rates for people who supplemented their diets with D2 versus those who did so with D3, the form naturally produced by your body.

The analysis of 50 randomized controlled trials, which included a total of 94,000 participants, showed:

A six percent relative risk reduction among those who used vitamin D3, but
A two percent relative risk increase among those who used D2

In an article posted on Live in the Now, Dr. John J. Cannell writes:

“Amazingly, this study somehow slipped under the radar…

You would think a paper that took a look at tens of thousands of subjects and analyzed the efficacy of prescription vitamin D (D2) and over-the-counter vitamin D (D3) would warrant a news story or two.

To my knowledge, these papers are the first to paint such a clear picture about the efficacy between D3 and D2.”

The Two Types of Vitamin D

Supplemental vitamin D comes in two forms:

1. Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2)

2. Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)

They have long been regarded as equivalent and interchangeable – especially since a recognized vitamin D expert, Dr. Michael Hollick, recommended it. But that notion was based on studies of rickets prevention in infants conducted several decades ago. Today, we know a lot more about vitamin D, and the featured study offers compelling support for the recommendation to take vitamin D3 if you need to take an oral supplement—which is the same type of D vitamin created in your body when you expose your skin to sunlight.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Richard T.

12:19AM PDT on Mar 22, 2012

Very good article!I needed this info!

send a green star

Ingrid W.

1:48PM PDT on Mar 13, 2012

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Trudy K.

11:54AM PST on Feb 25, 2012

Interesting article. I currently take Vit D-3- 5, 000IU/day due to a medical condition. However, I have recently changed to a vegan diet & have been looking for a D-2 supplement instead. Reading this information now causes me concern. Will definately have to do more research on the D-2 to determine if it really is more detrimental than animal based D-3.

heather g.

11:19PM PST on Feb 22, 2012

I do miss the sunshine, sunny skies, sunnier personalities and bright, vibrant colours. Unfortunately, our sun is there above the clouds but too shy to show it's face when you live as far north as Canada. Vit D surely makes a huge difference in the health and well-being of people

Estelita A.

6:47PM PST on Feb 22, 2012

THANKS..

Melissa W.

4:18PM PST on Feb 22, 2012

I think that it is important to mention that if you get sun exposure for Vit D your skin needs time to absorb it which takes a while. Most of us wash off the vitamin D when we take a shower so the longer you let the skin absorb the vitamin D the better.

In general synthetic vitamins are bad for you. Some say that they are identical to natural vitamins in their molecular structure when actually they only have one component of the natural vitamin. Many people who take vitamins get sick after using them for a while and the reason for this is that the synthetic vitamins are chemicals made in a lab and these chemicals are toxic and can build up in your body affecting many of your organs especially your liver.

If you want natural vitamins look for "Whole food vitamins" on the package. These will tend to be more expensive because they are taken from whole foods (fruit, veggies, grains, mushroom, algea, etc). But would you put a price on your health?

Deborah D.

11:23AM PST on Feb 21, 2012

I had my Vitamin D levels tested a year ago and
they showed very low levels of the vitamin.
I am fortunate my rheumatologist knew
to specifically prescirbe Vitamin D3 supplements
I livei n the Pacific Northwet, so I get little
sun. A tannning bed is not an option, because
of cost. So supplements are the way to
go for me.

Robert G.

11:16AM PST on Feb 21, 2012

I would suggest reading the Mayo Clinic site on Vitamin D before proceeding on this advice. It is possible to overdose on Vitamin D, which can cause a buildup of calcium in the blood, which can cause serious problem for some people. 1000 i.u is usually the recommended dose, ammounts over that should only be taken under a doctors supervision and over 4000 i.u on a regular basis can cause serious problems. I am suprised that Care 2 does not care enough to vet these articles to make sure that unsafe information is not being distributed on its site.

Roxanne N.

10:25AM PST on Feb 21, 2012

Natural sunlight is the best way to get vitamin D. But unfortunately, most people spend their days indoors at a desk. And with the phobia about sunshine and the need to use sunscreen every second you are out of doors, many of us are almost completely cut off from sunlight. It can't penetrate into our skin and activate the precursors of vitamin D. Thus, supplements. I try to get out of doors as much as possible, but I live in the Pacific NW, with very long gray periods where it seems that the sun has been obliterated! So I take D3 supplements, a higher dose during winter and fall, and lower in spring and summer, when I get more sun exposure.

Deborah M.

8:22AM PST on Feb 21, 2012

should both women and men supplement with D3? both my hubby and i take a D3 supplement. thks.