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Vitamin D3 Outshines D2 for Heart and Muscle Health
2 Sep
Summary
- Vitamin D3 is more effective than D2 for muscle and heart function.
- Studies show D3 improves muscle mass, fiber size, and grip strength.
- D3 enhances cardiac contractility and metabolism indicators effectively.
Researchers at ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) have discovered that vitamin D3 offers more significant benefits than vitamin D2 for muscle and heart function, based on recent animal studies.
The research involved feeding Sprague-Dawley rats diets with either vitamin D2, D3, a combination, or a deficiency diet. Findings showed that rats receiving vitamin D3 experienced greater improvements in muscle mass, fiber size, and grip strength compared to those given D2.
Additionally, vitamin D3 demonstrated superior efficacy in enhancing biological markers related to muscle growth and energy metabolism. Similar advantages were observed in heart health, with D3 positively impacting indicators of cardiac contractility and metabolism.
Scientists noted that while both forms of vitamin D aided calcium regulation, D2 was less effective for muscle and heart structure and energy metabolism. These results suggest vitamin D3 is a preferred option for maintaining and restoring muscle and cardiac health, though further studies are needed.
