Almost all liquid milk approved for sale by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is fortified with vitamin D, according to the University of California Riverside. Because of this supplementation, the difference between vitamin D milk and 2 percent milk depends on the composition of the particular vitamin D milk. In other words, because almost all 2 percent milk contains vitamin D, in general there is no difference between 2 percent vitamin D milk and 2 percent milk. There are, however, minor differences between, for example, full-fat vitamin D milk and 2 percent milk. Consult a dietitian with specific questions about your vitamin D or milk consumption.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, one that is absorbed with dietary fats and stored in your adipose tissue. Vitamin D plays a number of essential roles in your body. It helps you absorb dietary calcium and maintains proper calcium balance in the body. In addition, it enhances the functioning of the immune system and may help regulate blood pressure. Although the body can manufacture vitamin D from exposure of the skin to sunlight, few foods are naturally rich in this nutrient. Because of its physiological importance and its relative scarcity in food sources, vitamin D is added to fluid milk in the U.S.
Types of Milk
The predominant difference between types of milk is the fat content. Whole milk contains the most milk fat, with 3.5 percent. Reduced-fat milk has 2 percent milk fat, while low-fat milk offers 1 percent. Skim milk, also known as fat-free or nonfat milk, can contain up to 0.2 percent milk fat. All these types of milk are equally fortified with vitamin D, at a rate of 400 micrograms per quart, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Nutritional differences between them depend on their specific milk fat content.
Nutritional Differences
Regardless of their milk fat content, different types of milk have the same amount of protein and carbohydrate per serving. However, the more milk fat it contains, the more calories milk delivers to your diet. In addition, other nutrients can vary depending on fat content. For example, a cup of 2 percent milk provides 224 milligrams of phosphorus compared to 205 milligrams in full-fat vitamin D milk and 247 milligrams in nonfat vitamin D milk. Vitamin A levels also vary depending on fat content, with 1 cup of 2 percent milk giving you 464 international units or IU, in contrast to 395 IU from full-fat vitamin D milk and 500 IU from skim vitamin D milk. The amount of potassium in milk also depends on the fat content, with lower-fat milk containing more of this mineral per serving. Despite these differences, the nutritional variations between 2 percent milk and other forms of vitamin D milk are relatively small.
Considerations
Because almost all commercially available milk in the U.S. is rich in vitamin D, the fat content of milk might be the criterion you use to select which type of milk you consume. Milk sold for fluid consumption is enriched with this vitamin, but other dairy products, including yogurt and cheeses, do not contain added vitamin D.
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