Did you know why we call vitamin D the “sunshine vitamin?” The answer is simple—your skin produces it upon direct exposure to sunlight.
Although we can get vitamin D from our diet, obtaining adequate amounts of it from food sources alone is quite difficult.
This is where supplements come in.
This article will walk you through all you need to know about this fat-soluble vitamin and familiarize you with the best vitamin D supplement brands on the global market, their efficiency, price, and popularity among users.
We also provide you with a detailed buyer’s guide explaining how to select the best option for you based on your needs.
The 10 Best Vitamin D Supplement Brands for 2021
We’re committed to providing you with the best products available. If you purchase through one of the links on our site, we may earn a commission. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure. Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 250 mcg (10,000 IU)
Optimal vitamin D choice for 2022
- No unpleasant aftertaste
- Easy to swallow
- Allergen-free
NOW® Foods Vitamin D-3 10,000 IU
Top high-dose vitamin D3 product
- High-quality pure blend
- Allergen-free
- Contains bovine gelatin
Nature Made® Vitamin D3 Extra Strength 5000 IU (125 mcg)
Editor’s choice for 5,000 IU of vitamin D
- USP-verified
- No artificial colors and flavors
- Gluten-free
Thorne Vitamin D/K2
High-quality liquid vitamin D
- Natural colors and flavors
- No gluten, dairy, or soy
- Ideal for postmenopausal women
Vital Choice Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Oil + Vitamin D3
The omega-3 and vit D combo
- Gluten-free
- Paleo-keto friendly
- Produced in a GMP-certified facility
- Non-GMO and MSC-certified
NatureWise® Vitamin D3 125 mcg (5,000 IU)
A great choice for musculoskeletal function
- It contains natural olive oil
- Allergen-free
- Easily absorbable
- Non-GMO product
MegaFood® Vitamin D-3 2000 IU (50 mcg)
Cleanest organic product
- Free from herbicides and pesticides
- Certified glyphosate residue-free
- Certified non-GMO
- Vegetarian-friendly
Country Life Vitamin D3 125 mcg (5,000 I.U.)
Most effective for immune system strengthening
- No yeast, wheat, corn, sugar, salt
- No magnesium stearate
- Gluten-free
- Recyclable packaging
Designs for Health® Vitamin D Supreme with Vitamin K1 + K2
Top choice with vitamins K1 and K2
- No dairy, gluten, or soy
- Fortified with vitamins K1 and K2
- Premium glass packaging
Nordic Naturals® Vitamin D3 Gummies
The best choice for children
- Non-GMO verified
- Third-party purity tested
- Palatable wild berry flavor
- Vegetarian-certified
If you’ve had trouble selecting the perfect vitamin D product for you in the past, you no longer need to worry. We’ve curated a detailed review of the best choices on the market for you. Let’s have a look at them. If you’re looking to buy a premium vitamin D3 product made with the purest ingredients, this brand might be right for you. Its arsenal consists of over 400 uniquely developed products backed with verifiable science and made with only the purest high-quality ingredients available. Vitamin D3 in this product promotes intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption and minimizes calcium loss through urine. Consequently, it’s an essential component in maintaining proper calcium levels and bone health. It also supports cardiovascular functions by maintaining proper plasma renin function. Additionally, the presence of cholecalciferol helps maintain the healthy angiogenesis balance, healthy cell metabolism and supports immune cell activity. Like all other Pure Encapsulations products, this supplement is free from allergens like gluten, wheat, eggs, tree nuts, and peanuts. There are also no artificial flavors or sweeteners, coatings, shellacs, GMO ingredients, fillers, preservatives, unnecessary binders, etc. Consumers reported improved vitamin D3 levels upon taking this supplement. Some also reported improvement in osteopenia after taking this product type for a period of two months. It’s important to mention that they also recorded no side effects. If you’re looking for a high-dose vitamin D3 supplement, this product could be ideal for you. Providing a whopping 10,000 IU of vitamin D per serving, just one softgel can provide your body with sufficient levels of vitamin D3, enough to last three days. Consumers of this product reported a considerable increase in their vitamin D3 levels upon using this easily digestible product for only one month. Furthermore, NOW® Foods is a USA family-owned and operated company that has been in existence since 1968. Its testing methods are designed to promote consistent, highly reproducible product quality in line with good manufacturing practices and ensure compliance with sanitation, processing, and documentation. This non-GMO hypoallergenic product is no exception. This product made from carefully selected ingredients is one of the top-rated propducts on the market today when it comes to high-dose supplements. It’s perfect for vitamin D deficient adults—it contains 5000 IU vitamin D3 in a single softgel to quickly help you meet your daily vitamin D dose. This vitamin D3 supports bones, teeth, and muscle health. What’s more, it strengthens the immune system. A single pack contains a 90-day supply of Vitamin D3 5000 IU (125 mcg), and the daily consumption of just one softgel is sure to keep your vitamin D levels at the optimum. Customers reported reduced body aches, improvements in depression, and total eradication of upper respiratory infections and shortness of breath upon taking this top vitamin D supplement. Finally, scientific research is at the heart of every production process at Nature Made®. All their supplements, including this product, are considered safe for consumption due to the strict manufacturing processes involved in getting these products ready for the global market. If you’re looking to boost your vitamin D and vitamin K levels, this supplement is ideal for you. This product provides a synergistic mix of vitamin D and K, alongside other essential ingredients like tocopherols. Vitamin D and vitamin K both support bone and muscle health, alongside cardiovascular health and immune function. Combining the two in a single supplement provides you with top-notch cardiovascular and immune support. Recent studies revealed that a good vitamin D supplement alone is beneficial for calcium absorption. The presence of vitamin K in combination with vitamin D helps direct all calcium absorbed directly to the bones and away from soft tissues such as kidneys and blood vessels. Furthermore, a study on postmenopausal women, who may experience arterial stiffness, revealed that combining vitamin D and K supplements helps maintain healthy elasticity of the arteries. Lastly, customers rate this product as the best vitamin D drops for conditions like celiac disease, whose sufferers are at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Not only is this product one of the best over-the-counter vitamin D supplements, but it’s also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Each capsule contains 65 mg of omega-3s per softgel alongside 2,000 IU of vitamin D3. The omega-3s in this high-quality vitamin D product comes from seafood. That’s a good source of omega-3, as it contains long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA and EPA) known for supporting immune function at the cellular level. Supportive but non-conclusive research indicates that the consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, and lower blood pressure. Unlike any other vitamin D3 product on our list, this product provides you with the necessary amount of vitamin D3 immersed in a wild Alaskan sockeye salmon oil base. Most supplement makers deliver their fat-soluble D3 either in hard pills or in a vegetable oil base (in which the vitamin may not dissolve well). The oil base is an essential factor since vitamin D3 is absorbed better when consumed alongside fats. Furthermore, the vitamin D in this supplement comes from lanolin—a safe, waxy natural substance secreted by wool-bearing animals widely used in moisturizers and lip balms. Lastly, this product contains no stearates or GMO ingredients. It’s produced in a GMP-certified facility and is free from artificial preservatives, sugar, and allergens such as yeast, soy, or dairy. This product is a high-dose supplement that delivers 5,000 IU of the biologically active form of vitamin D in a single serving and quickly restores depleted levels of this nutrient. Therefore it’s ideal for people unable to get adequate exposure to sunlight. If your goal is to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system, this product is the right supplement for you. This product is designed to strengthen muscles and promote movement. The high vitamin D content in this product allows for the easy absorption of calcium and phosphorus, both of which are essential for optimal muscle and bone function. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. This means that it requires dietary fat so the body could absorb it. Because of that, this supplement comes with organic olive oil as one of the ingredients. Its presence boosts the absorption of vitamin D. Furthermore, this non-GMO product is gluten-free and devoid of allergens such as wheat, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish. This product has proven to be a powerhouse that effectively maintains bone health, hormone levels, and immune function. It contains cholecalciferol, an easily absorbed form of vitamin D, to help you meet your daily requirements. Just one tablet a day provides you with 2,000 IU of vitamin D3, enough to maintain your overall well-being. What makes this product unique is the abundance of organic ingredients. It contains organic whole foods such as carrots, organic broccoli, beetroot, parsley leaf, and brown rice that provide synergistic cofactors. With each serving delivering a whopping 605 mg of nourishing food and herb blend, it’s no surprise this product bears the title of the best organic product in our reviews. The presence of readily absorbed organic vegetables and fruit makes this product very gentle on the stomach, creating no issues even when taken on an empty stomach. One of the key roles of this high-quality supplement is related to supporting the immune system. It also strengthens bones and can even help with fracture healing. Lastly, this safe-for-consumption third-party tested product is free from allergens such as gluten, dairy, soy, etc. This vitamin D product by Country Life influences nearly 3,000 of your 25,000 genes, thereby playing a critical role in proper immune system function. Just one softgel a day makes sure your immune system is strengthened and you’re safe from common infections. For this reason, numerous consumers use it to boost immunity against colds and flu. Since it aids calcium absorption, it’s an essential supplement for building strong bones and teeth alongside flexible muscles. Besides that, this incredible supplement can also promote colon health. Country Life is known for producing supplements with pure and nutritious ingredients, and Vitamin D3 125 mcg (5,000 IU) is no different. Vitamin D in this vitamin D supplement doesn’t come from the fish liver, which is a standard source of this vitamin. Instead, it originates from a more sustainable source—lanolin. Lastly, this product is manufactured in a registered US GMP-certified facility and is also free from artificial additives and numerous allergens. Additionally, all ingredients in this product are laboratory tested for authenticity. Our reviews would be incomplete without mentioning this great supplement by Designs for Health®. Vitamin D Supreme is a product that stands out in the world of supplements due to its unique features and components. Besides containing a clinically useful dose of vitamin D3, it also includes vitamin K (K1 and MK-7 form of K2). Since vitamin D and K work synergistically in maintaining proper body health, increasing the dose of vitamin D may also require you to increase your vitamin K intake. Both vitamins are essential for optimal bone and arterial health, making this product particularly beneficial for menopausal women. Additionally, it supports the immune system and maintains it in proper balance. Finally, this vitamin D is free from different allergens and is produced in a GMP-certified facility. Gummies could be an excellent solution for kids and adults who find it hard to swallow pills. With this tasty chewable supplement, you and your family can now increase vitamin D levels while enjoying a distinctive wild berry flavor taste. Each palatable chewable gum provides you with 1,000 IU of cholecalciferol—the most easily absorbed form of vitamin D. As one of the most effective products on the market, this product plays a vital role in building stronger bones and teeth, maintaining calcium and phosphorus levels, and supporting the normal functioning of the immune system. Nordic Naturals® is an innovative brand with socially responsible practices and ethical manufacturing processes. Therefore, this delicious pectin-based chewable supplement, like all their products, has been third-party tested for purity and potency. Lastly, this supplement contains no artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives. It’s also GMO-free and doesn’t contain allergens like soy, gluten, and milk.Our Top-Rated Vitamin D Supplement Reviews
Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 250 mcg (10,000 IU)
Optimal vitamin D choice for 2022
Pros
Cons
NOW® Foods Vitamin D-3 10,000 IU
Top high-dose vitamin D3 product
Pros
Cons
Nature Made® Vitamin D3 Extra Strength 5000 IU (125 mcg)
Editor’s choice for 5,000 IU of vitamin D
Pros
Cons
Thorne Vitamin D/K2
High-quality liquid vitamin D
Pros
Cons
Vital Choice Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Oil + Vitamin D3
The omega-3 and vit D combo
Pros
Cons
NatureWise® Vitamin D3 125 mcg (5,000 IU)
A great choice for musculoskeletal function
Pros
Cons
MegaFood® Vitamin D-3 2000 IU (50 mcg)
Cleanest organic product
Pros
Cons
Country Life Vitamin D3 125 mcg (5,000 I.U.)
Most effective for immune system strengthening
Pros
Cons
Designs for Health® Vitamin D Supreme with Vitamin K1 + K2
Top choice with vitamins K1 and K2
Pros
Cons
Nordic Naturals® Vitamin D3 Gummies
The best choice for children
Pros
Cons
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for numerous processes. However, finding the perfect product that suits your needs can be an arduous task if you don’t understand how supplements work.
In the following section, we’ll inform you about everything you need to know about vitamin D brands, what to look out for when selecting a supplement that suits your needs, etc.
What are Vitamin D and Vitamin D Supplements?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient mainly in charge of bone, teeth, and muscle health. It’s absorbed with fats and stored in the liver and fatty tissues for a long time. When your skin is exposed to the sunlight, it starts producing vitamin D. The fact that the body itself can create it, actually makes vitamin D a prohormone, not a vitamin.
Besides getting vitamin D from sunlight exposure, you can also obtain it through your daily diet and quality vitamin D supplements.
There aren’t many diets capable of supplying the body with the required daily amount of vitamin D. Furthermore, exposure to sunlight rarely provides adequate vitamin D, and many side effects may arise following the skin’s overexposure to UV light. For this reason, supplementing is the best option to obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D for your daily needs.
How Does Vitamin D Work?
There are two conversion processes that vitamin D from food or supplement undergoes before it becomes biologically active and ready for use.
First, it’s transferred to the liver upon consumption, where it’s converted to calcidiol—the storage form of vitamin D. Then calcidiol is converted to calcitriol (an active steroid hormone form of vitamin D used for numerous processes) in the kidneys.
Who Should Take Vitamin D Supplements?
People who live in regions with a lot of sunlight (like West Africa) may not need to supplement with vitamin D due to the abundance of sunlight all year round, given that they get enough exposure. However, those living in areas lacking adequate sunlight (like Scandinavia) may need to obtain vitamin D from their diet or a dietary supplement.
Given that vitamin D from supplements can store in your body for months in the form of calcidiol, you may not need to supplement for vitamin D all the time unless you are deficient.
Benefits of Vitamin D Supplements
Vitamin D has various health benefits, some of which are:
- Reduced risk of osteoporosis
- Cancer prevention
- Depression management
- Reduced risk of type 1 diabetes
Sources of Vitamin D
Some of the best sources of vitamin D include:
- Cod liver oil
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Beef liver
- Egg yolk
- Canned sardines
However, given that all of the abovementioned foods supply vitamin D in small amounts, they often can’t provide you with adequate amounts of the best form of vitamin D for proper function. For this reason, introducing supplements might be necessary.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency causes many illnesses, though symptoms can take years to manifest. Most commonly occurring are rickets, osteoporosis, increased risk of fractures after falls in the elderly, diabetes (type 1 and 2), etc.
Forms of Vitamin D Contained In Supplements
Vitamin D comes in two forms—vitamin D2 and vitamin D3.
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)
Vitamin D3 is found only in animal sources such as fatty fish and egg yolks. This vitamin D variant is almost twice as effective at increasing vitamin D levels in comparison to vitamin D2, which is why it’s a common ingredient of the top-rated vitamin D supplements.
The best sources of vitamin D3 are:
- Fish oil
- Liver
- Dietary supplements
- Butter
- Egg yolk
Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol)
Vitamin D2 is commonly found in fortified foods and plant sources. Reports indicate that vitamin D2 shows a higher sensitivity to temperature fluctuations and humidity when compared to vitamin D3, making it more susceptible to degradation. This is the reason why D3 form is more prevalent in products than D2.
Form
Vitamin D supplements come in various forms. There are tablets, gummies, capsules, and softgels. Though form can play a significant role in choosing the best supplement for you, the most critical factor is the type of vitamin D in supplements.
Purity
There’s a significant level of “noise” concerning product purity in the supplements industry. Many brands boast about the high levels of purity of their product. However, many such claims are unfounded.
We suggest you look for a third-party verification on the product to determine which products are genuinely high-quality vitamin D supplements. Besides organizations like USP and NSF that determine the veracity of what’s written on the product label, some websites such as Labdoor and ConsumerLab provide lists of high-quality supplements and third-party verifications online.
Dosage
Dosage is an important factor to consider when selecting the best vitamin D to take. With each individual having their unique threshold, based on their health status, it would be unrealistic for everyone to stick to the same vitamin D3 dosage. If you get enough vitamin D through your diet and you get enough exposure to sunlight, you might not even need to supplement with external D3 sources.
In case of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended dosage of vitamin D3 supplements is much higher.
Recommended daily intake (RDI) for vitamin D is as follows:
- Infants: 400 IU (10 mcg) per day
- Children and adults aged 1–70 years: 600 IU (15 mcg)
- Older adults aged 70 and above: 800 IU (20 mcg)
Although the figures mentioned above are the recognized standard, the US National Academy of Medicine still recommends that the safe upper limit of vitamin D3 per day is 4,000 IU (100 mcg). Nonetheless, it’s also important to note that top products in the highest-rated vitamin D supplement category deliver a very high vitamin D3 dose of up to 10,000 IU.
Cost
Price is a top determining factor when it comes to supplements. For this reason, we took various steps to ensure that our readers aren’t paying more than necessary when purchasing the best vitamin D supplements for their needs.
Overdose, Toxicity, and Adverse Reactions to Vitamin D Supplements
Consuming vitamin D in high doses can be toxic. Research suggests that the upper limit for adults is 4,000 IU (100 mcg) per day.
Symptoms of vitamin D toxicity include:
- Weight loss
- Anorexia
- Frequent urination
- Heart arrhythmias
Overdose can occur mainly through supplementation. In contrast, spending a lot of time in the sun or consuming vitamin D through food can’t result in vitamin D toxicity.
Vitamin D supplements can also react with certain medications, like weight loss drugs, steroids, and medicines that lower cholesterol levels. Therefore, it’s advised to consult your healthcare provider before taking vitamin D supplements if you have a pre-existing health condition.
Conclusion
Obtaining adequate amounts of vitamin D from our daily diet can be quite a task. Supplements come in handy here since they are an excellent source of this vitamin, and they are easy to find as over-the-counter products.
However, when using supplements as your primary source of vitamin D, you need to pay apt attention to the type of vitamin D in the product. If you’re looking for the best vitamin D supplement with a long shell life and high absorption, you should look for a supplement whose main ingredient is vitamin D3.
FAQ
What is the difference between vitamin D and vitamin D3?
Vitamin D3 raises vitamin D levels faster than D2. Furthermore, D3 tends to have a longer shelf life since D2 responds more rapidly to environmental changes such as humidity.
What is the most absorbable form of Vitamin D?
The most absorbable form of vitamin D is D3. Certain studies show that it’s more effective in raising serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D than vitamin D2.
What are the symptoms of low vitamin D?
There are numerous symptoms of vitamin D deficiency:
- Frequent infections
- Tiredness
- Fatigue
- Bone pain
- Back pain
- Depression
- Delayed wound healing
Which is the best vitamin D supplement?
There isn’t any one-size-fits-all option when it comes to selecting the right supplement. The choice largely depends on your health and your physician’s recommendations. Our reviews showed that the Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 250 mcg (10,000 IU) is the best vitamin D supplement for the general populace. It’s high-dose, easy to swallow, and the consumers hail it for its effectiveness. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]