Vitamin D is crucial for maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and muscles by regulating calcium and phosphate absorption. ⁣ Deficiency is a ⁢widespread health concern, with the Centers for Disease Control⁤ and⁣ Prevention (CDC) reporting that up to 31% of non-Hispanic Black adults in the United States are deficient. However, the two primary forms of vitamin ⁣D - D2 (ergocalciferol)⁣ and D3 (cholecalciferol) - are metabolized differently by ⁤the body.

Vitamin D3 is produced in ⁣the skin upon exposure to sunlight and is also found in animal-based foods like oily fish. Vitamin D2, conversely, is⁤ derived from plants and mushrooms. During the summer months, sufficient vitamin D⁣ production through sunlight is generally achievable for ⁢those living in higher latitudes. However, as the Northern Hemisphere transitions into autumn and winter, sunlight intensity diminishes, making supplementation a common proposal.