Health
Popular vitamin D supplement may have an unexpected effect, experts warn
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Vitamin D is known to be essential to many aspects of human health — but a new study suggests that taking a certain form of it can have a negative effect.
The more potent and longer-lasting form, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is produced naturally when the body is exposed to sunlight and is also found in animal products, while vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) comes from plant or fungal sources, per the National Institutes of Health.
Researchers from the University of Surrey in the U.K. found that taking vitamin D2 can cause reduced levels of vitamin D3 in the body.
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They made this determination by analyzing 11 randomized controlled trials including 655 adults, which showed that people taking vitamin D2 supplements had less vitamin D3 than those who did not take D2, according to a university press release.
The findings of the study — conducted along with the John Innes Centre and the Quadram Institute Bioscience in Norwich, England — were published in the journal Nutrition Reviews.
Vitamin D is known to be essential to human health — but a new study suggests that taking a certain form of it can have a negative effect. (iStock)
“Vitamin D supplements are important, especially between October and March, when our bodies cannot make vitamin D from sunlight in the U.K.,” lead researcher Emily Brown, a Ph.D. research fellow from the University of Surrey’s Nutrition, Exercise, Chronobiology & Sleep Discipline, stated in the press release.
“However, we discovered that vitamin D2 supplements can actually decrease levels of vitamin D3 in the body, which is a previously unknown effect of taking these supplements. This study suggests that, subject to personal considerations, vitamin D3 supplements may be more beneficial for most individuals over vitamin D2.”
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Previous research has suggested that the two forms of vitamin D are not interchangeable. A study published in Frontiers in Immunology, also conducted by the University of Surrey, found that vitamin D3 is more effective in boosting the immune system and protecting the body from viral and bacterial diseases, the release noted.
Some foods containing vitamin D3 include fatty fish, egg yolks, cod liver oil and fortified dairy and animal foods, health sources confirm. (iStock)
“We have shown that vitamin D3, but not vitamin D2, appears to stimulate the type I interferon signaling system in the body – a key part of the immune system that provides a first line of defense against bacteria and viruses,” stated Professor Colin Smith, who led the above study. “Thus, a healthy vitamin D3 status may help prevent viruses and bacteria from gaining a foothold in the body.”
Professor Martin Warren, chief scientific officer at the Quadram Institute, confirmed in the release that vitamin D deficiency is a “significant public health concern,” particularly during the winter months.
“This collaborative research effort aligns well with the Quadram Institute’s mission to deliver healthier lives through food innovation to enhance the nutrient density of the food we eat,” he said. “Tackling this with the most effective form of vitamin D supplementation or fortification is of the utmost importance to the health of the nation.”
More research is needed to determine whether vitamins D2 and D3 affect the body differently — and whether that could change doctors’ medical advice on which type to take, the researchers concluded. (iStock)
More research is needed to determine whether vitamins D2 and D3 affect the body differently — and whether that could change doctors’ medical advice on which type to take, the researchers concluded.
There were several limitations to the analysis, the study findings noted.
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For example, there were only a small number of studies with many differences among them, such as their duration, the amount and timing of doses, and how results were measured. There was also the potential for biases due to incomplete reporting of details.
The results could also be affected by factors such as the amount of sunlight exposure, as well as some people taking supplements and others eating vitamin-fortified foods, the researchers noted.
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Some foods containing vitamin D3 include fatty fish, egg yolks, cod liver oil and fortified dairy and animal foods, health sources confirm. Vitamin D2 can be found in mushrooms, fortified foods and some plant/fungal-based supplements.
The study was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
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By Apoorva Mandavilli, Alexandra Ostasiewicz, Nikolay Nikolov, Stephanie Swart, Rafaela Balster and Lauren Pruitt
June 23, 2026
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Just four minutes of daily strength exercises can dramatically improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, per new research from the Penn State College of Medicine.
Standard public health guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. However, the study suggests that fewer than one in five older adults meet the recommended muscle-strengthening guidelines.
The research team designed a home-based program called Functional Activity Strength Training, or FAST-2. They evaluated 97 sedentary participants 65 and older, with an average age of 74.
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Before entering the study, these individuals were averaging just 18 minutes of total physical activity each week.
The older adults were randomly split into two groups, with one group performing the daily exercise routine and the other serving as a control group that received no intervention, according to the study’s press release.
Just four minutes of daily home strength training can significantly improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study. (iStock)
Participants performed four basic movements for 30 seconds each, separated by 30-second rest intervals. The entire routine lasted exactly four minutes. The circuit consisted of push-ups, chair stands, two-arm resistance-band rows and stair stepping.
To keep the routine accessible, researchers provided written explanations and simple modifications. For example, participants could perform push-ups against a kitchen counter or wall, or use their hands on their knees for support during chair stands.
Participants were also given four elastic resistance bands and an adjustable step platform.
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“Exercise is actually really complicated, because you have to decide how many repetitions, how far, how many sets, how much rest and how many times per week,” co-author Smita Dandekar, associate professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, said in the press release.
“It’s hard work … so if we can make it short, we’re part [of the] way there.”
The program consisted of four basic movements: push-ups, chair stands, resistance-band rows and stair stepping. (iStock)
As the participants grew stronger, they were encouraged to progress to higher levels of difficulty, such as transitioning away from modifications or increasing the height of the stepper.
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After 12 weeks, the results suggested that a tiny dose of regular exercise could yield noticeable physical benefits. In a 30-second chair-stand test, the exercise group performed an average of 4.2 more repetitions than the control group.
“These indicators … give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
The adults doing the exercises also shaved 2.3 seconds off their time during a test measuring how they could stand up and sit down five times consecutively. Furthermore, they extended their one-legged balance time by an average of 3.6 seconds.
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The researchers emphasized that these specific measurements are critical medical indicators of an older adult’s future health.
By keeping the routine ultra-short, researchers eliminated common barriers like time constraints and exhaustion, resulting in an exceptionally high 81% workout completion rate. (iStock)
“These indicators predict your future ability to go into a nursing home, your future likelihood of falling and of developing difficulty walking,” noted lead author Christopher Sciamanna, professor of medicine and of public health at Penn State College of Medicine, in the press release.
“They give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
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While traditional home exercise programs generally see low engagement, the participants in this study successfully completed their workouts on 81% of the tracked days, according to the researchers.
After 12 weeks, exercising seniors gained the ability to complete an average of four more chair-stand repetitions than those who did not exercise. (iStock)
The study had several noted limitations. As it tracked a relatively small sample size of fewer than 100 individuals over a brief 12-week time frame, it is unknown whether these mobility gains can be sustained long-term.
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Additionally, the researchers did not specify the exact dropout rates or detail how the routine might affect seniors who already relied on assistive devices like walkers or canes.
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Because the final trial results reflected a specific group of participants who met the entry criteria, further investigation is required to determine whether the short routine can safely benefit older adults facing more severe physical limitations or cognitive decline.
The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
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Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy, has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The popular “mommy blogger” had been fighting the disease for the past two years, according to an announcement posted on ScaryMommy.com on Monday.
The stay-at-home mother of three launched the blog in 2008 as a place to share the “joys and pitfalls” of parenting, according to the article.
As Scary Mommy expanded from a personal blog into a major parenting brand, Smokler built a following with her honest, often self-deprecating take on motherhood. She went on to speak at blogging conferences, author bestselling books, appear on national television programs and earn three Webby Awards, her biography states.
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“Jill spent her life telling the truth about motherhood — that it could be wonderful and impossible in the very same breath — and in doing so, she gave millions of women permission to stop pretending and feel a little less alone,” her family shared in a statement following her passing.
Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy (pictured in 2018), has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock)
“She was funny, fearless, generous and entirely herself. More than anything she built, Jill was proudest of her three children, Lily, Ben and Evan. We are heartbroken to lose her, and endlessly proud of the mark she left on the world.”
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Smokler’s first sign of the disease was in April 2024, when she experienced a sudden seizure. She then underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, after which she didn’t recognize her own children, she previously shared with Today.
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“I am definitely grateful that I don’t remember the looks on their faces when I didn’t recognize them,” she said. “That must have been gutting.”
Smokler was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults and one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. There is currently no cure.
About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. (iStock)
Following surgery, the blogger underwent radiation and chemotherapy, during which she was open about her treatment side effects, including fatigue and hair loss. Additional surgeries and clinical trials followed, according to previous interviews.
“Thank you, Jill, for everything. May you rest in peace,” the Scary Mommy post concluded.
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About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. More than 12,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
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Median survival is approximately 12 to 18 months after diagnosis, even with treatment. Only about 5% to 7% of patients survive five years after diagnosis, data shows.
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