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Ingredient intelligence · non-production preview

Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)

Also known as Vitamin D2, Ergocalciferol, D2

Not medically reviewed
vitamin formentity:ingredient:vitamin-d2-ergocalciferolCompare this ingredientView evidence

Identity structure

Parent and form relationships

Ingredients, supplement concepts, supplement-form projections, and commercial products remain separate records.

Parent supplement

Origin is not a quality score

Origin classification is not assigned for this pilot. MEDucated does not rank naturally occurring or manufactured ingredients as better or worse based on origin.

Evidence availability

Direct ingredient evidence boundaries

Supplement-level evidence is reused only when a frozen source block explicitly names this ingredient or form. Missing topics remain unavailable.

Identity and what it is

A frozen NIH ODS source explicitly identifies this ingredient or form. Source wording is preserved without creating a new conclusion.

Source-backed preview

Structural characterization

Evidence profile

No overall rating assigned
Evidence source
NIH ODS evidence synthesis
Linked references
1 identified
Human evidence
Human evidence not identified in the frozen metadata
Randomized trials
Randomized trials not identified in the frozen metadata
Reviews and meta-analyses
Systematic review or meta-analysis identified
Evidence recency
2018–2018
Source-described consistency
Not characterized in these source blocks
MEDucated evidence rating
Not assigned

Reference counts describe frozen source associations; a larger count does not establish stronger evidence.

Inspect technical evidence details
Evidence types identified
  • Systematic review1
Source-described limitations

No explicit limitation phrase was identified in these imported source blocks.

Classified references

  1. Silva MC, Furlanetto TW. Intestinal absorption of vitamin D: A systematic review. Nutr Rev 2018;76:60-76. [PubMed abstract]

    Systematic review · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Read imported source wording

In foods and dietary supplements, vitamin D has two main forms, D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol), that differ chemically only in their side-chain structures. Both forms are well absorbed in the small intestine. Absorption occurs by simple passive diffusion and by a mechanism that involves intestinal membrane carrier proteins [4]. The concurrent presence of fat in the gut enhances vitamin D absorption, but some vitamin D is absorbed even without dietary fat. Neither aging nor obesity alters vitamin D absorption from the gut [4].

Where did MEDucated get this?

Vitamin D

Publisher
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Revision
June 27, 2025
Source fingerprint
825b1a553a4a177e2d87fc412b0b4b21daa72ca92f4334a0096bc0dfa7f70a3c
Source blocks
ingredient-block:vitamin-d2-ergocalciferol:ods-block:vitamin-d-health-professional:introduction:5
Inspect the official source (opens in a new tab)

Source attribution does not imply NIH or ODS endorsement of MEDucated.

Common uses

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Biological role

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

What evidence has studied

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Potential benefits studied

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Safety considerations

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Side effects

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Medication interactions

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Supplement interactions

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Food interactions

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Forms and chemical variants

A frozen NIH ODS source explicitly identifies this ingredient or form. Source wording is preserved without creating a new conclusion.

Source-backed preview

Structural characterization

Evidence profile

No overall rating assigned
Evidence source
NIH ODS evidence synthesis
Linked references
8 identified
Human evidence
Human evidence identified
Randomized trials
Randomized trial identified
Reviews and meta-analyses
Systematic review or meta-analysis identified
Evidence recency
2007–2020
Source-described consistency
Not characterized in these source blocks
MEDucated evidence rating
Not assigned

Reference counts describe frozen source associations; a larger count does not establish stronger evidence.

Inspect technical evidence details
Evidence types identified
  • Systematic review1
  • Study type could not be determined4
  • Meta-analysis1
  • Randomized controlled trial2
Source-described limitations

No explicit limitation phrase was identified in these imported source blocks.

Classified references

  1. Silva MC, Furlanetto TW. Intestinal absorption of vitamin D: A systematic review. Nutr Rev 2018;76:60-76. [PubMed abstract]

    Systematic review · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

  2. Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med 2007;357:266-81. [PubMed abstract]

    Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

  3. Hirsch AL. Industrial Aspects of Vitamin D. In: Feldman D, Pike JW, Adams JS, eds. Vitamin D. 3rd ed. Academic Press; 2011:73-93.

    Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

  4. National Institutes of Health. Dietary Supplement Label Database. 2020.

    Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

  5. Tripkovic L, Lambert H, Hart K, Smith CP, Bucca G, Penson S, et al. Comparison of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation in raising serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 2012;95:1357-64. [PubMed abstract]

    Meta-analysis · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

  6. Lehmann U, Hirche F, Stangl GI, Hinz K, Westphal S, Dierkes J. Bioavailability of vitamin D2 and D3 in healthy volunteers, a randomised placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Endocrin Metab 2013;98:4339-45. [PubMed abstract]

    Randomized controlled trial · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed

  7. Logan VF, Gray AR, Peddie MC, Harper MJ, Houghton LA. Long-term vitamin D3 supplementation is more effective than vitamin D2 in maintaining serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status over the winter months. Br J Nutr 2013;109:1082-8. [PubMed abstract]

    Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

  8. Tripkovic L, Wilson LR, Hart K, Johnsen S, de Lusignan S, Smith CP, et al. Daily supplementation with 15 µg vitamin D2 compared with vitamin D3 to increase wintertime 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in healthy South Asian and white European women: A 12-wk randomized, placebo-controlled food-fortification trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2017;106:481-90. [PubMed abstract]

    Randomized controlled trial · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Read imported source wording

Vitamin D is present in dietary supplements as either vitamin D2 or vitamin D3. Both can raise the serum level of 25(OH)D. However, research shows that vitamin D3 increases serum 25(OH)D levels to a greater extent than vitamin D2 and can maintain those higher levels for longer periods of time.

Dietary supplements can contain vitamins D2 or D3. Vitamin D2 is manufactured using UV irradiation of ergosterol in yeast, and vitamin D3 is typically produced with irradiation of 7-dehydrocholesterol from lanolin obtained from the wool of sheep [13,31]. An animal-free version of vitamin D3 sourced from lichen is also available [32]. People who avoid all animal-sourced products can contact dietary supplement manufacturers to ask about their sourcing and processing techniques.

Both vitamins D2 and D3 raise serum 25(OH)D levels, and they seem to have equivalent ability to cure rickets [4]. In addition, most steps in the metabolism and actions of vitamins D2 and D3 are identical. However, most evidence indicates that vitamin D3 increases serum 25(OH)D levels to a greater extent and maintains these higher levels longer than vitamin D2, even though both forms are well absorbed in the gut [33-36].

Where did MEDucated get this?

Vitamin D

Publisher
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Revision
June 27, 2025
Source fingerprint
825b1a553a4a177e2d87fc412b0b4b21daa72ca92f4334a0096bc0dfa7f70a3c
Source blocks
ingredient-block:vitamin-d2-ergocalciferol:ods-block:vitamin-d-health-professional:dietary-supplements:1, ingredient-block:vitamin-d2-ergocalciferol:ods-block:vitamin-d-health-professional:dietary-supplements:2, ingredient-block:vitamin-d2-ergocalciferol:ods-block:vitamin-d-health-professional:dietary-supplements:3
Inspect the official source (opens in a new tab)

Source attribution does not imply NIH or ODS endorsement of MEDucated.

Intake and dose reference information

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Populations needing caution

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Pregnancy and lactation

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Laboratory and test considerations

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Regulatory status

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Evidence limitations

Direct source evidence for this ingredient topic is not yet available in MEDucated.

Evidence unavailable

Architecture readiness

Connected without overreaching

This identity can participate in future interaction and product-label models without creating an interaction conclusion or product score.
Interaction target ready

Canonical resolution

Exact names and registered aliases can resolve to entity:ingredient:vitamin-d2-ergocalciferol. Uncertain terms remain unresolved.

Product-label ready

Identity mapping only

Future labels can preserve literal wording, quantity, unit, serving basis, order, and source provenance separately from this identity.