10 Best

Vitamin D3 Supplements

of April 2024

Your geographical location or a health condition could be preventing you from getting the required amount of Vitamin D. If you live in a very sunny location, and spend an adequate amount of time outdoors, then you do not require this supplement. But, if you reside in a place with inadequate sunlight, you need Vitamin D3 supplements for your optimal health.

Even people residing in a sunny location tend to be deficient in Vitamin D (receiving from between 12 ng/mL to less than 20 ng/mL of Vitamin D per day is considered inadequate for proper health). The reason is associated with the consumption of less milk and the use of sunscreens. With this in mind, you may require a Vitamin D3 supplement to boost your immune system and cell growth.

Picking the right product can be difficult without appropriate guidance. We will help you address that difficulty in the following buying guide. You need to know that before you pick any supplement, you should know your Vitamin D level. That might require going for a blood test. Then a recommended dose should be prescribed by your doctor.

Forms: Vitamin D3 supplements come in different forms. There are gummies, soft gels, capsules, tablets, and liquid. The gummies are said to be more absorbent than capsules or tablets, and they are chewable, which makes them great for kids. The soft gel is often tasteless and easy to swallow. Tablets typically have a bitter taste, except when the brand states otherwise. They are also relatively hard to swallow. The liquid supplements are the easiest to be absorbed by the body and have faster absorption than the rest. A supplement coated with lipids as well will enhance absorption. The form you go for is dependent on your preference and the doctor's recommendation.

• Side effects: Ingredients used in manufacturing some Vitamin D3 supplements can be detrimental to your health. It is necessary to check the ingredients for any substance you are allergic to, before purchasing the supplement. You should avoid going for products above the daily requirement, to prevent toxicity.
• Third-party certification: Every product should abide by the FDA regulation, but not all do so. To ensure you are getting the best, go for brands that have verification from independent certifiers, like the USP and NSF International. It is to ensure that the number of ingredients is listed on the label without any extra unwanted additives.

• Dosage: It is necessary to speak with a medical practitioner before deciding on a dosage. The recommended dosage is what determines the particular Vitamin D3 product you will buy. The daily requirement for children (less than 12 months) and the elderly (70 years and above) population is 400 IU and 800 IU. The Recommended Daily Allowance (=RDA) for other populations is 600 IU but can exceed that figure (800 to 2000 IU daily). The upper limit for adults older than 19 years is 4000 IU.
• International Unit: You’ll see that Vitamin D3 supplements display the amount of Vitamin D3 in IU, which stands for “International Unit”. IUs are the unit of measurement for Vitamins A, D, and E--but an IU of Vitamin D is not the same as one of Vitamin A! For our purposes, know that 1 microgram of Vitamin D is the equivalent of 40 IU, or 400 IU is 10 micrograms.
• Other ingredients: Some Vitamin D3 supplements are produced with a combination of other ingredients like calcium and magnesium. Before procuring any Vitamin D3 supplements, you must check the label for the additional ingredients. If you already have other supplements containing those ingredients, it is better not to go for that product, to avoid the risk of an overdose. In case of doubt, you should consult your physician. It is also necessary to check for magnesium in the supplement, especially if you are not on a magnesium supplement. Magnesium is vital in maintaining your Vitamin D level.
• Potency and purity: The amount of Vitamin D in supplements can range from 9% to 146%, so you’ll have to read the label carefully to know how much Vitamin D is available. The easiest way to be sure that a supplement is as potent as it claims to be is on the basis of third-party verification. Some supplements in soft gel form are produced with soybean oil or corn oil which may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These organisms affect the purity of the drug. The best choice of soft gel supplements is the one made with extra-virgin oil and organic palm oil.
• Vegan-Friendly: There are Vitamin D3 supplements from animal sources, such as skins of fatty fish or sheep lanolin. Most of these supplements are not suitable for vegans. As a vegan, it is necessary to look for Vitamin D3 supplements produced from lichen. A simple solution is to look for a product that is labeled vegan-friendly.

• Nature-made (D3 Adult Gummies): This brand produces sweet, fruit-flavored Vitamin D3 supplements. This supplement is easy to take. Each gummy delivers 2000 IU of Vitamin D. They do not contain artificial color, synthetic dye, or sweeteners.

• Nature's Bounty (Vitamin D3 Softgels): The brand is USP-verified, and produces soft gels that deliver 2000 IU per dose. The supplements are free of GMOs and are for people with food intolerance to milk, lactose, gluten, wheat, and fish.

• Vital Choice (Wild Sockeye Salmon Oil and Vitamin D3): This brand supplement is NSF-certified for sports. The supplement is from lanolin and wild salmon oil (a good source of omega-3 fatty acid). One capsule delivers 1000 IU of Vitamin D3.

• Design for Health (Hi-Po Emulsi-D3): This brand of supplement is certified by Natural Products Association. The product is a liquid Vitamin D3 supplement that contains 2000 IU per drop. The product can be added to a drink, or put directly on the tongue.