ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), Hyderabad, researchers have found that vitamin D 3 is more effective than vitamin D2 in maintaining and restoring muscle and heart function, at least in animal studies in their latest study.
Researchers conducted experiments on weaning male Sprague-Dawley rats to compare them. The animals were fed diets containing vitamin D2, vitamin D3, a combination of both, or a vitamin D-deficient diet. The team then evaluated body composition, muscle strength , muscle structure, energy metabolism and markers linked to heart function. Similar benefits were also found in heart health as Vitamin D3 produced stronger effects on indicators of cardiac contractility and metabolism, especially among rats recovering from vitamin D deficiency.
Scientist Ayesha Ismail, also the corresponding author of the study, said that while both forms of vitamin D improved calcium-related parameters, vitamin D2 was less effective in several measures related to muscle and heart structure and energy metabolism.
