|
|
Article: The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement.(Recently Published Abstracts)(Author abstract)
- Article from:
- Alternative Medicine Review
- Article date:
- December 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Thorne Research Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Supplemental vitamin D is available in 2 distinct forms: ergocalciferol (vitamin D(2)) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D(3)). Pharmacopoeias have officially regarded these 2 forms as equivalent and interchangeable, yet this presumption of equivalence is based on studies of rickets prevention in infants conducted 70 y ago. The emergence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D as a measure of vitamin D status provides an objective, quantitative measure of the biological response to vitamin D administration. As a result, vitamin D(3) has proven to be the more potent form of vitamin D in all primate species, including humans. Despite an emerging body of evidence suggesting several plausible ...