Product ReviewsFind the Best Vitamin D Supplement
Brands compared in report
 | 365 (Whole Foods) Vitamin D3 |
 | AdvoCare Calcium Plus |
 | AlgaeCal Plus |
 | Andorra Life Collagen Calcium |
 | Baby Ddrops Vitamin D3 |
 | Bayer Citracal Petites |
 | Bio Tech D3-50 |
 | Bluebonnet EarthSweet Chewables Calcium Magnesium & D3 |
 | Caltrate 600 + D3 |
 | ChildLife Liquid Calcium With Magnesium |
 | CVS Pharmacy Vitamin D3 |
 | Doctor's Best Artery Prime With MenaQ7 |
 | Finest Nutrition (Walgreen) Vitamin D3 |
 | Garden of Life Vitamin Code RAW D3 |
 | GNC D-3 |
 | Jamieson D |
 | Jarrow Formulas Bone-Up |
 | Kirkland Signature (Costco) Calcium |
 | Kirkland Signature (Costco) Vitamin D3 |
 | Kirkland Signature [Costco] Calcium Citrate Magnesium And Zinc |
 | Life Extension Vitamin D3 |
 | L'il Critters Calcium Gummy Bears with D3 |
 | Member's Mark (Sam's Club] Vitamin D-3 |
 | Metagenics CalApatite Bone Builder With Magnesium |
 | Nature Made D3 |
 | Nature's Bounty Calcium Magnesium Zinc |
| Nature's Bounty D3 | |
 | Nature's Way Alive Calcium Bone Formula |
 | NatureWise Vitamin D3 |
 | NOW Vitamin D-3 & K-2 |
 | Pure Encapsulations OsteoBalance |
| Puritan's Pride Sunvite Super-Potency Vitamin D3 | |
 | RiteAid Pharmacy Vitamin D-3 |
 | Solgar Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) |
 | Source Naturals Vitamin D-3 |
 | Spring Valley [Walmart] D3 |
| Sundown Naturals Calcium Plus Vitamin D3 | |
 | The Honest Co. Gummy Calcium & Vitamin D3 |
 | Thorne Research Vitamin D |
 | Trader Joe's Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D |
 | USANA Vitamin D |
 | Viactiv Calcium Plus D - Milk Chocolate |
 | Vitacost Vitamin D3 |
 | Vitafusion Vitamin D3 |
 | Vitamin World Calcium with Vitamin D3 |
 | Vitamin World Vitamin D3 |
 | Wellesse Calcium & Vitamin D3 |
 | WHC UnoCardio |
More about this report
Choosing the best vitamin D supplement, and knowing when to use it, can be difficult. ConsumerLab.com's staff removes the guess work by showing you which vitamin D supplements are of highest quality and best value based on independent tests of popular supplements, as well as summarizing the latest clinical studies showing how vitamin D can and cannot help.
Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone health, and adequate vitamin D levels in the blood are associated with reduced risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, allergy, and even colds. Adequate vitamin D has also been shown to strengthen muscles, improve sleep, and reduce the risk of falls, while too much vitamin D can have the opposite effects. You must choose and use vitamin D supplements carefully if you want the best for you and your family.
Our tests found many quality supplements providing 400 IU to 5,000 IU of vitamin D, but also products which may not break apart properly to release their ingredients or contain less ingredient than listed on the label -- including other ingredients for bone health such as calcium, vitamin K, and magnesium.
You must be a ConsumerLab.com member to get the full test results for vitamin D supplements, including quality ratings and CL's Top Picks. You'll also get vitamin D cost and ingredient comparisons to help you find the right product at the best price -- some costing only 1 cent per day. You will get results for 44 vitamin D supplements: 24 selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com and 20 additional products that passed the same tests through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program, as well as information about three supplements similar to ones that passed testing.
In this comprehensive review, you'll discover:- Which vitamin D supplements failed our quality ratings and which passed -- including combinations with calcium, magnesium and/or vitamin K
- Cost comparisons to help you choose the best vitamin D supplement for your money
- What vitamin D can and can't do for you, and how too much can actually harm you
- What is vitamin D, and is vitamin D2 or D3 best for you?
- The best way to take vitamin D
- What is vitamin D deficiency and how to gauge if your vitamin D levels are sufficient, too low, or too high -- and how this may differ if you are black
- Vitamin D dosage based on your age, gender and needs
- How to get vitamin D from the sun and from foods
- Side effects of vitamin D supplements and potential drug interactions
Related questions and answers
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- Which supplements can help lower cholesterol and keep my heart healthy? Are there any to avoid? >>
- As vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, why is it necessary to take it every day? >>
- I'm thinking of changing my multivitamin, but the one I'm considering doesn't contain molybdenum. Most others have it. How important is molybdenum? >>
- I have been having dizziness for the past few months and am wondering if it could be a side effect of supplements I take. Which supplements cause dizziness? >>
- I'm taking Lumiday, a supplement to improve mood. It seems to help me but is it safe? >>
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- Which supplements help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer? >>
- A blood test showed my vitamin D level is low. How do I know how much vitamin D to take? >>
- I read that aging lowers the body's capacity to produce vitamin D. Even regular sun exposure will not suffice and one may have to take a vitamin D3 supplement during old age to meet our body's regular requirements. Please comment on this. >>
- I spend a lot of time in the sun, especially in the summer. Does this mean my vitamin D levels could get too high? >>
- Is there a difference between taking vitamin D in the dry form versus the oil capsules? Is one better than the other? >>
- Which supplements can help to lower blood pressure? >>
- Do any supplements improve balance or reduce the risk of falls? >>
- Which supplements reduce the risk of stroke? Which increase the risk of stroke? >>
- What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency? >>
- Is it okay to take vitamin D3 and fish oil together? >>
- Which supplements can help lower or control my blood sugar? >>
- If vitamin K absorption appears to be reduced by other fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin D, why do some "bone health" supplements combine them? Should they be taken separately? >>
- I am having trouble sleeping. I regularly take a multivitamin, fish oil, magnesium, calcium, vitamins D and K, and a protein supplement. I also take a low-dose blood pressure medication. Could any of these supplements be causing my insomnia? >>
- Do any supplements help for hair loss? >>
- Are the "% DV" numbers on vitamin supplement labels really based on what I need? >>
- Which supplements can help treat constipation? >>
- I've heard it's best to take fat-soluble supplements, like CoQ10, curcumin, and vitamin D, with fats or oils to increase absorption. Would taking them with a fish oil capsule be enough? >>
- Is it true that overdoses of vitamin D only occur when you don't get enough vitamin K? >>
- Are there vitamins or supplements that can reduce my risk of breast cancer? >>
- Does taking a laxative interfere with the absorption of vitamins or minerals? >>
- Which supplements help with depression and anxiety? >>
- Are liquid vitamins better than pills? >>
- Which supplements can cause constipation? >>
- Can vitamins or other supplements cause a change in the ability to taste, or even a loss of taste? >>
- Do any supplements help for flu? >>
- Do any supplements help prevent or treat osteoporosis? >>
- Which supplements can help me sleep? >>
- I do moderate exercise for about an hour a few times a week. Which supplements might help me? >>