Vit D or D3 supplements

The sun shines during the winter months too. To my mind natural vitamin D has to be the best, you just get out more and keep off the SPF cream.

I think it makes no difference. I also take vitamin D as advised by my doctor. The sun doesn't provide enough in the winter.

Esspee

The sun shines during the winter months too. To my mind natural vitamin D has to be the best, you just get out more and keep off the SPF cream.

Not so....the department of health recommendation is that a supplement of vit d is taken through the winter months ..... I get mine on prescription from GP

crissy

I have been taking vit D3 during winter months for the past couple of years following all the advice about lack of sunlight. However, by mistake I bought some vit D tablets. Do you think there is any difference? Should I try to exchange them?

There is no significant difference between vitD and vitD3.... just ensure you are taking the correct dosage of whichever

The sun, even in high summer and laying out stark naked, does not provide enough vitamin D

You need the type called cholicalciferol and look into vit K to go with it. I am not giving any advice, you do the research

Esspee

The sun shines during the winter months too. To my mind natural vitamin D has to be the best, you just get out more and keep off the SPF cream.

Not enough sun in Scotland so vitamin d is definitely recommend, unfortunately the sun is strong enough to set off my photo-reactive Rosacea. So it’s SPF for me.

Crissy if you are over 50 you would be better taking a calcium,vit D and vit K it's all in one tablet I get mine from Boots .

I have mine on prescription

karmalady

The sun, even in high summer and laying out stark naked, does not provide enough vitamin D

You need the type called cholicalciferol and look into vit K to go with it. I am not giving any advice, you do the research

Absolute nonsense.

Your body makes most of the vitamin D it needs from sunshine, the remainder comes from food.

Don’t be rude, Esspee. If your assertion is correct, can you explain why the government sent out vitamin D tablets to CEV people?

It's not just a question of being rude - it's just untrue. The majority of people in the UK can't make enough Vitamin D from sunlight or food, especially in winter.

I was told about the calcium ,vitD and vit K tablet by a radiologist when I had my first mammogram at 50 now 64. Because of my joints I also take a cod liver oil tablet and folic acid as my levels where low my last blood test and had to have a 3 month course of tablets so to make sure it doesn't happen again I take the tablet. I also have B12 as I don't eat red meat just chicken and Quorn. Lots of pulses ,veg and fruit.

I take Vitamin D3. A GP told me to take 1000mg per day indefinitely. I don't know the difference between D3 and vitamin D, but it should be OK. At the time, my vitamin D level was 11.

Esspee

karmalady

The sun, even in high summer and laying out stark naked, does not provide enough vitamin D

You need the type called cholicalciferol and look into vit K to go with it. I am not giving any advice, you do the research

Absolute nonsense.

Your body makes most of the vitamin D it needs from sunshine, the remainder comes from food.

My knowledge freely given. Take it or leave it

DH, who takes strong drugs for Stage 4 cancer, takes VitD as advised by his Oncologist. He was told by her that the body does not make enough naturally, here. (London). He is about to have another bone density scan but so far has had good results.

Just be aware, that Vit D like all supplements can be overdosed. Just be careful.

In reply to the original question. There is little difference between VIt D and Vit D3. The latter comes from animal sources, and the first is plant based.

Both should really be taken under GP advice, (whether on prescription or privately purchased), and be very aware that too much can be very dangerous and debilitating, and have long term bad effects.

In some countries including Canada and Sweden, VitD supplement is added to cows milk by law and has been since 1930s.

Thank you for all your replies. It seems there is not much difference between Vit D and D3. I think I will start taking them all year though as I tend to cover up or put sunscreen on in summer. Not sure about the other vits that seem to come bundled with Vit D, but will bear it all in mind.

Because of osteopenia in 2009, my GP has prescribed D3 ever since. I personally think you should get advice from your GP so that you get the correct dose.

Nannagarra

Don’t be rude, Esspee. If your assertion is correct, can you explain why the government sent out vitamin D tablets to CEV people?

Because they don’t get out as much as the rest of us? You need to be outside with skin exposed and during covid many people who didn’t have gardens weren’t getting enough exposure to natural sunlight.

According to the Vitamin D Council spending even a short time in the sun can provide the body with all the vitamin D it needs for the day.
A Cancer Research U.K. funded survey concluded that 9 minutes of lunchtime sunlight each day would be enough for Caucasians to remain above the deficient level of vitamin D throughout the year. Even people with darker brown skins may need only 25 mins exposure a day.

The specialist nurse at the DEXA clinic I attended said that 20 mins of sun on face, hands and forearms provided enough vitamin D but only between the months of May to September. The rest of the year it’s best to take a supplement. That’s in NE Scotland.

I’m baffled by the claim that The sun, even in high summer and laying out stark naked, does not provide enough vitamin D.
If that’s the case, why didn’t the human race die out eons ago?

So…. What about me?
25 mins of full sun will make my face weep, crack and bleed. Pustules, such an attractive word, all over.
I prefer sunblock and a blood-free pillow. Unfortunately that leaves me chronically shot of vitamin d. Good job the Scottish government recommends a supplementary, which it will provide me with for free, but I can auto buy.