Are vitamin D oral sprays more effective than vitamin D pills or drops?
Learn more about vitamin D oral sprays, pills, and drops, including a price comparison. ConsumerLab's answer explains.
Save to favorites
This feature is restricted to active members.
Join now to save favorites and get all member benefits, including over 1,300 reviews.
Join NowAlready a member? Sign in here.
Our Members Asked:
Is there a difference between taking vitamin D in the dry form versus the oil capsules? Is one better than the other?
Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.
Answer:
As discussed in the Vitamin D Supplements Review, the most important thing about taking vitamin D is not whether it's dry or in oil, but that you take it with a meal, as that can increase absorption by about 30 to 50%. If you can't take it with food, the oil form may be slightly better. (Note that capsules containing oil are referred to as "softgels.")We have tested and reviewed many products in both forms (as well as other forms, such as drops -- which are also in oil). These reviews are found in the Vitamin D Supplements Review>>
Join today to unlock all member benefits including full access to all CL Answers and over 1,300 reviews.
Join NowAlready a member? Sign In Here.
Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/
Related CL Answers (7)
Related Reviews (1)
Join the conversation
Join today to unlock all member benefits including full access to CL Answers
Join NowAlready a member? Sign In Here.
Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/
Submit your comment
This feature is restricted to active members.
Join now to add comments and get all member benefits, including over 1,300 reviews.
Join NowAlready a member? Sign in here.
Agree to Comment Terms
Please abide by the following:
- If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
- If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
- Please be respectful in your tone.
- Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will posts that exceed 2,500 characters.
For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.
Your comment has been submitted
We will review your comment before it is posted.
Richard8169
December 9, 2015A dry product did absolutely nothing to raise my vitamin D blood level (and it was a CL-approved product). In fact, it declined a little. Importantly, I did *not* take it with food. Still, based on the advice here I'm surprised it had *no* effect, since food is stated as "increasing" absorption rather than as an absolute requirement for *any* absorption.
I switched to a gelcap, took it with food (especially higher-fat meals), and with that regimen my levels rose quickly.
Robert20958
September 23, 2020I had same experience. Dry(Lanolin) no increase. FISH OIL D3 increased my D