Vitamin D3 vs D2 and bones & joints
What 4 graded rows on vitamin d3 vs d2 agree on for bones & joints, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Vitamin D3 vs D2 and bones & joints
4 rows · 30,359 peopleSplit. 1 row found an improvement, 2 found no difference and 1 found a worse outcome.
- BGrade B× 1
- CGrade C× 1
- ∅No effect× 2
- Rows
- 4
- Trials
- 4
- At least: a review without a trial count
- People
- 30,359
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade B, is a randomized trial of 95 people (2013) and found an improvement. 2 rows are graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
The 2 rows that found no difference were larger: a median of 14,977 people, against 95 people for the row that found an improvement.
Only the 2 rows that found no difference include pooled reviews of several trials (1 of 2); the row that found an improvement is a single study.
The 2 rows that found no difference ran longer (24 months to 5.3 years) than the row that found an improvement (6 months).
Only the 2 rows that found no difference name women and men in their population.
The 2 rows that found no difference are newer (2014 to 2022) than the row that found an improvement (2013).
The rows
1 improved · 2 no difference · 1 worse- ∅No effectFractures · No difference
RCT · n 25,871 · 2022 · US men 50+ and women 55+ not selected for deficiency, low bone mass or osteoporosis (VITAL)
2,000 IU/day · Median 5.3 years
No significant effect on total fractures (HR 0.98), nonvertebral fractures (HR 0.97) or hip fractures (HR 1.01). No effect modification by baseline 25(OH)D.
Row on the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page · PubMed 35939577 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectBone mineral density (general adults) · No difference
Meta-analysis · n 4,082 · 2014 · 23 RCTs in adults (92% women, mean age 59) without metabolic bone disease
Varied; 10 trials used under 800 IU/day · Mean 23.5 months
Small benefit at the femoral neck only (+0.8%), with heterogeneity and possible bias toward positive results; no effect at the total hip, spine or other sites.
Row on the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page · PubMed 24119980 (opens PubMed)
- BGrade BRaising blood 25(OH)D: D3 vs D2 · Improved
RCT · n 95 · 2013 · Healthy adults aged 18–50 in New Zealand over winter
1,000 IU (25 mcg)/day · 25 weeks
Total serum 25(OH)D was 21 nmol/L lower with D2 than with D3; D2 also lowered the 25(OH)D3 metabolite compared with placebo.
Row on the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page · PubMed 23168298 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CBone density at high daily doses · Worse
RCT · n 311 · 2019 · Healthy adults aged 55–70 without osteoporosis, baseline 25(OH)D 30–125 nmol/L (Calgary)
400 vs 4,000 vs 10,000 IU/day · 3 years
Radial volumetric bone density fell more with 4,000 IU (-2.4%) and 10,000 IU (-3.5%) than with 400 IU (-1.2%); tibial density was lower only at 10,000 IU. No significant difference in estimated bone strength.
Row on the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page · PubMed 31454046 (opens PubMed)