Vitamin D is essential for bone health, muscle growth and development, and more. If you’re not getting enough of this nutrient from sun exposure, vitamin D supplements can help. Check out our picks.
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
- $ = under $0.10 per serving
- $$ = $0.10 to $0.50 per serving
- $$$ = over $0.50 per serving
*This product has been third-party tested by an accredited lab to ensure purity and potency.
- Effectiveness: The products on our list contain vitamin D3 for optimal absorption.
- Forms: We included supplements in a variety of forms, including gummy, chewable, liquid, and capsule.
- Ingredients: We looked for supplements that are free of unnecessary ingredients.
- Price: We included products to suit a range of budgets.
- Brand reputation: The brands on our list are trusted by healthcare professionals.
- Third-party testing: We prioritized supplements that have undergone testing by an independent lab or been third-party certified.
- Vetting: The products on our list have been vetted to ensure that they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being.
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We fact-check health claims, evaluate ingredients, and look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the products on this page, we considered all the vitamin D supplements that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further.
Vitamin D is not common in food
Sun exposure is the main source of vitamin D.
There are two forms of vitamin D
Vitamin D2 is found in plants, and vitamin D3 is found in animal-sourced food, like fish oil.
Many benefits of vitamin D
It helps with calcium absorption, bone health, immune function, and disease prevention.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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 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.
