Vitamin D2 Supplements

D2 and D3

Both are vitamin D, and both convert in the body toward the same active hormone. What separates them is sourcing and timing. D2 is made from plant and fungal sources — UV-exposed yeast and mushrooms. D3 comes from lanolin in sheep's wool, or from lichen. Once taken, D3 tends to hold blood levels steadier for longer between doses, while D2 clears faster — which is why the two are sometimes dosed on different schedules rather than swapped one-for-one. Both raise vitamin D levels.

Sourcing

D2 has long been the plant-derived choice, and lichen-derived D3 is also suitable for a vegan diet. If sourcing is what's driving your decision, both routes are open to you — the full vitamin D range carries both.

Forms and strengths

D2 is sold here at 1000IU in three formats: liquid drops, softgels, and dry vegan capsules. Drops suit people who want to adjust the amount or dislike swallowing anything; a dry capsule is a fully plant-based format, since vitamin D is fat-soluble and softgels are often suspended in oil. Read the label for the amount per drop or capsule — they differ.

Why vitamin D is supplemented in Canada

It's a question of latitude. Vitamin D is made in skin on exposure to UVB, and at Canadian latitudes the sun sits too low in the sky through the winter months for skin to make a meaningful amount of it — roughly October to March, depending how far north you are. That's the practical reason vitamin D is one of the most commonly supplemented nutrients in the country, and why Health Canada sets a recommended intake for it. How much you personally need is a question for a blood test and a practitioner, not a supplement page.

Vitamin D2 in Canada

Every vitamin D2 supplement at Vitamart is licensed for sale in Canada — look for the NPN on the label — and ships from our Ontario warehouse. See the full vitamin D range for D2 and D3 together.