The 10 Best Vitamin D Supplements of 2020
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How we vet brands and products
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:Mindbodygreen, NOW, and Pure Encapsulations are among the best brands for vitamin D. Learn which others our dietitians recommend.
Quick look at the best vitamin D supplements
If you’ve discovered you have a deficiency in vitamin D, you’re not alone. It’s particularly common among people who get limited sun exposure, as well as people with dark skin, people over age 65 years, and people who smoke. Breastfed infants and children with certain medical conditions are also susceptible to vitamin D deficiency.
If a healthcare professional has recommended a vitamin D supplement for calcium absorption, bone health, or muscle growth and development, we’ve vetted and narrowed down our recommendations to eight supplements for when vitamin D from sun exposure is not enough or inaccessible.
A note on price
Vitamin D supplement prices are generally $0.04 to $0.55 per serving (1 or 2 capsules or 1 to 5 drops), or $8 to $54.49 per container. Below we use the following ranges for individual products:
The best vitamin D supplements
Best high dose vitamin D
Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3
4.9 (579+) from Amazon
Healthline's review
If you have a severe vitamin D deficiency, a healthcare professional will likely recommend taking a high dose supplement — at least 10,000 international units (IU) daily. This may be followed by a maintenance dose of up to 6,000 IU once your levels normalize.
Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 gets our pick as the best high dose vitamin D option because it’s third-party tested and provides 10,000 IU per serving.
Plus, unlike other products on the market, it’s hypoallergenic, non-GMO, and gluten-free, so it’s a great choice for people with food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Keep in mind that this product is not suitable for vegans since it contains vitamin D3 derived from lanolin, a type of fat secreted from sheep’s wool.
However, Pure Encapsulations also offers a lower dose vegan-friendly alternative, which is made with vitamin D3 sourced from algae.
Pros & cons
Product details
Most affordable
NOW Foods Vitamin D3
4.8 (5.5k+) from AmazonHealthline's review
We also like this high dose vitamin D from NOW Foods. It’s widely available and comes at a budget-friendly price.
Additionally, we appreciate the simplicity of the ingredients — including 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 derived from lanolin — and the fact that it’s non-GMO, kosher, and free of common allergens such as dairy, eggs, sugar, soy, and corn.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best vegan vitamin D
HUM Nutrition Here Comes the Sun
4.7 (127+) from HUM Nutrition
Healthline's review
We like Here Comes the Sun for its high quality and vegan-friendly list of ingredients, including 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 derived from lichen.
It also stands out as a stellar option because it’s non-GMO, gluten-free, and made without any artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Like other supplements from HUM Nutrition, this vitamin D supplement is sustainably sourced, triple-tested for purity, and evaluated for potency by third-party labs.
Not only that, but HUM Nutrition also offers all customers free personalized nutrition advice from its in-house team of registered dietitians.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best vitamin D gummies
Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Vitamin D3 Gummies
4.5 (737+) from AmazonHealthline's review
Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Vitamin D3 Gummies are an easy-to-take, sugar-free option (sweetened with xylitol, a sugar alcohol) containing vitamin D from lanolin, which means they’re a good choice for vegetarians.
They’re also naturally colored with fruit and vegetable juice, non-GMO, and third-party tested for purity.
Plus, Nordic Naturals provides a certificate of analysis (COA) for every supplement. A COA is a document that confirms that a product meets its required specifications.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best vitamin D drops
Thorne Vitamin D/K2 Liquid
Healthline's review
Thorne Vitamin D/K2 Liquid wins our vote because it’s one of the few vitamin D supplements that also provides vitamin K2, which works together with vitamin D and is necessary for heart and bone health.
This supplement also offers a convenient way to take your dose of vitamin D, especially if you dislike taking capsules or have difficulty swallowing. These drops can be mixed into any food or beverage.
It’s one of the most affordable options on our list and is free of soy, gluten, dairy, and artificial flavors and additives. Plus, it’s vegetarian-friendly, as it contains vitamin D derived from lanolin and vitamin K2 from geraniol, a plant-based compound found in many essential oils.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best chewable vitamin D
NOW Foods Chewable Vitamin D3
4.7 (1.1k+) from AmazonHealthline's review
For people who prefer getting their nutrient supplements in chewable form, NOW’s budget-friendly, sugar-free offering packs 5,000 IU of vitamin D3. This product is easy to find at many retailers and online.
Sweetened with the sugar alcohols sorbitol and xylitol, it also contains natural vanilla and peppermint flavors. Additionally, it’s kosher, soy-free, and gluten-free.
Note that because this product is made with cellulose, the vitamin D it contains is less absorbable than the vitamin D in oil-based capsules.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best subscription vitamin D
Care/of Vitamin D
Healthline's review
Care/of offers two quality, personalized subscription vitamin D products: The Sunny D3 and the Vegan Sunny D3.
Both products contain 1,000 IU per capsule. The vegan supplement contains vitamin D3 sourced from algae, so it’s safe for those following a vegan diet. The nonvegan version is sourced from lanolin.
Care/of is a customer favorite thanks to its convenient daily vitamin packs, which can help simplify your supplement routine.
Additionally, Care/of sources ingredients from trusted suppliers around the globe and conducts three rounds of testing throughout the manufacturing process to ensure safety and quality.
Read more in our comprehensive Care/of brand review.
Pros & cons
Easiest to digest
mindbodygreen Vitamin D3 potency+
Use code "HEALTHLINE20" for 20% off.
SHOP NOW AT MINDBODYGREENHealthline's review
Mindbodygreen’s Vitamin D3 potency+ contains a blend of vitamin D3 and organic medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) from coconut, which can help improve absorption and potentially make it easier to digest. This is because Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and requires dietary fat in order to be absorbed.
This product is non-GMO, dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free.
Mindbodygreen products are third-party tested, but the names of the labs are not disclosed.
What our tester says
Healthline editors Candice Abellon and Kelli McGrane both tested mindbodygreen’s Vitamin D3.
“I’d recommend these vitamin D capsules based on the fact that they were easy to swallow,” Abellon commented. She also noted the high quality packaging and the substantial feel of the brown glass bottle, highlighting its aesthetic and protective qualities.
That being said, she cautioned, “It’s nice that the D3 for this vitamin is derived from a plant or algae, but the capsule has bovine gelatin, so it’s not vegetarian or vegan.”
McGrane appreciates the brand’s commitment to quality and third-party testing, finding the product easy to use daily with its one-a-day formulation.
“With that said,” she added, “the company’s products aren’t cheap, and some ingredients seem like they’re there more for advertising purposes than because there’s substantial research to back up their effectiveness.”
McGrane continued, “While I do like the product, I’m debating continuing with it because I have to purchase it from mindbodygreen’s website.”
Lastly, as a registered dietitian, McGrane also raised a concern about the high dosage of this product, advising that it is best suited for those specifically directed by a healthcare professional to take 5,000 IUs of vitamin D.
Healthline editors Candice Abellon and Kelli McGrane both tested mindbodygreen’s Vitamin D3.
“I’d recommend these vitamin D capsules based on the fact that they were easy to swallow,” Abellon commented. She also noted the high quality packaging and the substantial feel of the brown glass bottle, highlighting its aesthetic and protective qualities.
That being said, she cautioned, “It’s nice that the D3 for this vitamin is derived from a plant or algae, but the capsule has bovine gelatin, so it’s not vegetarian or vegan.”
McGrane appreciates the brand’s commitment to quality and third-party testing, finding the product easy to use daily with its one-a-day formulation.
“With that said,” she added, “the company’s products aren’t cheap, and some ingredients seem like they’re there more for advertising purposes than because there’s substantial research to back up their effectiveness.”
McGrane continued, “While I do like the product, I’m debating continuing with it because I have to purchase it from mindbodygreen’s website.”
Lastly, as a registered dietitian, McGrane also raised a concern about the high dosage of this product, advising that it is best suited for those specifically directed by a healthcare professional to take 5,000 IUs of vitamin D.
Pros & cons
Product details
Vitamin D supplements compared
| Products and price | Type | Dose | % of DV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3*$$ | capsule | 10,000 IU | 1,250% |
| NOW Foods Vitamin D3*$ | softgel | 10,000 IU | 1,250% |
| HUM Nutrition Here Comes the Sun*$$ | softgel | 2,000 IU | 250% |
| Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Vitamin D3 Gummies*$$ | gummy | 1,000 IU | 125% |
| Thorne Vitamin D/K2 Liquid$ | liquid | 1,000 IU | 125% |
| NOW Foods Chewable Vitamin D3*$ | tablet | 5,000 IU | 625% |
| Care/of Vitamin D*$$ | capsule | 1,000 IU | 125% |
| mindbodygreen Vitamin D3 potency+*$$$ | softgel | 5,000 IU | 625% |
* This product has been third-party tested by an accredited lab to ensure purity and potency.
How we chose the best vitamin D supplements
What is vitamin D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in many aspects of health, including:
Because vitamin D is found naturally in very few food sources and is mostly obtained through sun exposure, many people have an increased risk of deficiency.
Vitamin D supplements can help ensure that you’re getting the amount of vitamin D you need. They come in two forms: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. While both forms can increase blood levels of vitamin D, vitamin D3 can raise vitamin D levels higher and for longer than vitamin D2.
How to choose
Before you decide on a vitamin D supplement, getting your nutrient levels checked is wise. A blood test is the only way to find out whether you are deficient, insufficient, sufficient, or optimal in any nutrient.
A healthcare professional can order blood work and help you determine an appropriate dosage if a supplement is necessary for you. At-home testing kits may also be useful to measure your vitamin D levels.
Useful supplement shopping guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the most effective vitamin D to take?
Research shows that vitamin D3 is more effective than vitamin D2 at increasing blood levels of vitamin D. A 2020 study also found that both liquid and capsule vitamin D3 supplements can raise vitamin D levels efficiently.
Research shows that vitamin D3 is more effective than vitamin D2 at increasing blood levels of vitamin D. A 2020 study also found that both liquid and capsule vitamin D3 supplements can raise vitamin D levels efficiently.
Which form of vitamin D is best absorbed?
Vitamin D3 is typically better absorbed and used by the body than vitamin D2. Keep in mind, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it requires dietary fat in order to be full absorbed. It’s a good idea to take your vitamin D with a meal containing healthy fats.
Vitamin D3 is typically better absorbed and used by the body than vitamin D2. Keep in mind, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it requires dietary fat in order to be full absorbed. It’s a good idea to take your vitamin D with a meal containing healthy fats.
Which vitamin D is most useful?
The most useful vitamin D will contain D3 and meet your individual needs for dosing and other preferences, like cost and dietary restrictions, and form, like capsule, liquid, or chewable.
The most useful vitamin D will contain D3 and meet your individual needs for dosing and other preferences, like cost and dietary restrictions, and form, like capsule, liquid, or chewable.
What is the best strength of vitamin D to take daily?
The best strength of vitamin D can vary based on individual needs and levels, and it’s possible to overdo it. Be sure to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized dosage recommendations.
The best strength of vitamin D can vary based on individual needs and levels, and it’s possible to overdo it. Be sure to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized dosage recommendations.
The bottom line
The products above are among the best vitamin D supplements on the market and suit a wide variety of needs. Just keep in mind that for optimal absorption, it’s best to take vitamin D supplements with a meal containing fat, such as olive oil or peanut butter.
Before taking any new supplements, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional to determine whether — and how much — you need to supplement.
Supplements 101: Vitamin D
Posted : 2024-05-28 14:36
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