ConsumerLab.com uses JavaScript to provide the best possible experience for our content, but your browser has it disabled. Learn how to enable it here.

About ConsumerLab.com


Summary

  • What does vitamin D do?

    There are many reasons to make sure you're getting sufficient, but not excessive, vitamin D: These include improved bone health, reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, reduced risk of asthma and allergy, reduced inflammation, possibly, a reduced risk of prostate cancer, and perhaps others. Not surprisingly, over given periods of time there are fewer deaths among people who have the right amount of vitamin D compared to those who have too little or too much. For details, see What It Does.
  • How much vitamin D do I need?

    You may already get enough vitamin D from the sun (about 15 minutes to the face, arms, and hands at least twice a week without sunscreen) and the foods you normally eat. The recommended daily allowance is 15 mcg (600 IU) for teens and adults, going to 20 mcg (800 IU) for those over age 70. If you're not sure, get your blood level checked by your doctor. A total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of at least 20 ng/mL (equivalent to 50 nmol/L) is considered "sufficient," although there may be additional benefit to being in the 25 to 35 ng/mL range. Don't exceed 39 ng/mL. Be aware that people who are Black generally have lower total vitamin D levels than whites, but research suggests these lower levels may be sufficient for Blacks. For details see How Much Do You Need and How Much is Too Much?
  • What form of vitamin D is best?

    Vitamin D2 or D3 will raise your vitamin D level, but D3 is preferable as it may raise levels more effectively over time and is less likely to cause erroneously low vitamin D blood test results.

    Vitamin D supplements are sold as tablets, chewable tablets, capsules, gummies, softgels or liquids. Vitamin D sprays are also sold, and can be as effective as a pill or liquid drops, although they tend to be more expensive.
  • Which vitamin D supplement is best?

    Among the vitamin D supplements that CL tested and Approved for Quality (see What CL Found), CL selected Top Picks based quality, dosage, price, and convenience of use. These include Top Picks for vitamin D-only supplements, as well as vitamin D in combination with calcium, magnesium, vitamin K, and/or boron.
  • When to take vitamin D:

    Take vitamin D supplements with your biggest meal of the day (the one that contains most fats and oils) as this can increase absorption by as much as 50%! For details, see Take Vitamin D with Food.
  • How much vitamin D should I take?

    For every 1 ng/mL increase, you'll need to get an additional 100 IU of vitamin D per day (obese individuals may require double the amount, and if you already have an adequate level, enzymes in your body act to make it harder to raise it). For example, if your blood level is 18 ng/mL, taking 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily (or 1,600 IU if you are obese) should get you to about 28 ng/mL. It can take 6 weeks to reach the peak. Keep taking the vitamin D to stay at that level. The tolerable upper intake level (UL) of vitamin D for teens and adults, above which there is increased risk of toxicity, is 100 mcg (4,000 IU). For details, see What to Consider When Using.
  • Don't overdo it! Vitamin D safety and side effects:

    Studies show that people with the highest levels of vitamin D actually tend to have more bone fractures, fall more frequently, sleep less well, and die sooner than those with lower, but sufficient, levels. If your level is over 20 ng/mL, you probably don't need a supplement. If your level is above 35 ng/mL, taking a supplement may be doing more harm than good, so consider cutting back. For details see How Much Do You Need and How Much is Too Much?

Make sure you're choosing the best vitamin D supplements approved in our tests!

See the Full Review as a Member

Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/

Alphabetical list of vitamin D supplement brands compared in this review

View Larger Image 7785_large_Bayer-Citrical-BoneHealth-2022.png

Bayer Citracal Petites

View Larger Image 7793_large_Caltrate-BoneHealth-2022.png

Caltrate

View Larger Image 7738_large_Carlson-BoneHealth-2022.png

Carlson Baby's Super Daily D3

View Larger Image 7798_large_Flora-BoneHealth-VitaminDK-BoneHealth-2022.png

Flora Bone Health+ with Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin D & K

View Larger Image 7727_large_GardenOfLife-BoneHealth-2022 (1).png

Garden of Life Vitamin Code RAW D3 5,000 IU

View Larger Image 7794_large_GNC-CalciumPlus-BoneHealth-2022.png

GNC Calcium Plus

View Larger Image 7786_large_GNC-VitaminD3-BoneHealth-2022.png

GNC Vitamin D-3

View Larger Image 7728_large_Hum-BoneHealth-2022.png

HUM Here Comes The Sun

View Larger Image 7801_large_JarrowFormulas-BoneHealth-2022.png

Jarrow Formulas BoneUp

View Larger Image 7787_large_KirklandSignature-Calcium-BoneHealth-2022.png

Kirkland Signature Adult Gummies Calcium - Orange & Cherry

View Larger Image 7768_large_LifeExtension-VitaminK-BoneHealth-2022.png

Life Extension Bone Restore with Vitamin K2

View Larger Image 7857_large_LifeExtension-VitaminD3-BoneHealth-2022.png

Life Extension Vitamin D3

View Larger Image 7788_large_LilCrotters-Calcium-BoneHealth-2022.png

L'il Critters Calcium + D3

View Larger Image 7730_large_MegaFood-BoneHealth-2022.png

MegaFood Vitamin D3 1,000 IU (25 mcg)

View Larger Image 7731_large_MembersMark-BoneHealth-2022.png

Member's Mark Vitamin D3

View Larger Image 7732_large_NatureMade-D3-BoneHealth-2022.png

Nature Made Chewable D3 1,000 IU (25 mcg) - Grape

View Larger Image 7800_large_Naturelo-BoneHealth-2022.png

Naturelo Bone Strength Plant Calcium Complex With Magnesium, C, D3, K2, & Zinc

View Larger Image 7789_large_NaturesBounty-Calcium-BoneHealth-2022.png

Nature's Bounty Calcium

View Larger Image 7796_large_NaturesWay-CalciumD3-BoneHealth-2022.png

Nature's Way Calcium & Vitamin D3 - Citrus Flavored

View Larger Image 7733_large_NatureWise-BoneHealth-2022.png

NatureWise Vitamin D3 50 mcg (2,000 IU)

View Larger Image 7799_large_NewChapter-BoneHealth-2022.png

New Chapter Bone Strength Take Care

View Larger Image 7734_large_NordicNaturals-BoneHealth-2021.png

Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3 Gummies - Wild Watermelon Splash

View Larger Image 7791_large_NOW-D3K2-BoneHealth-2022.png

NOW Vitamin D-3 & K-2

View Larger Image NuBest_NuBest_Tall_10plus-Bone_Health-2024-small.png

NuBest NuBest Tall 10+

View Larger Image 7795_large_ProCapsLaboratories-D3-BoneHealth-2022-small.png

ProCaps Laboratories Andrew Lessman's Vitamin D3 1000

View Larger Image 7737_large_SourceNaturals-BoneHealth-2022.png

Source Naturals Vitamin D-3

View Larger Image 7792_large_SportsResearch-D3K2-BoneHealth-2022.png

Sports Research Plant-Based D3 + K2 2-in-1 Formula

View Larger Image 7745_large_SpringValley-D3-2022.png

Spring Valley Vitamin D3 25 mcg

View Larger Image 7797_large_TwinLab-Boron-BoneHealth-2022.png

TwinLab Tri-Boron Plus 12

View Larger Image 7735_large_Vitacost-BoneHealth-2022.png

Vitacost Vitamin D3

View Larger Image 7736_large_VitaFusion-BoneHeallth-2022.png

Vitafusion Vitamin D3 - Natural Peach & Berry Flavors

View Larger Image 7790_large_WebberNaturals-D3-BoneHealth-2022.png

Webber Naturals Calcium Citrate Vitamin D3

You must be a member to get the full test results along with ConsumerLab.com's recommendations and quality ratings. You will get results for 25 vitamin D supplements selected by ConsumerLab.com and seven others that passed testing in its voluntary Quality Certification Program. In this comprehensive review, you'll discover:
  • Which vitamin D supplements failed our quality ratings
  • CL's Top Picks for vitamin D supplements
  • What vitamin D can and can't do for you, and how too much can actually harm you
  • How forms of vitamin D differ — including D2 and D3, as well as calcifediol and calcitriol — and which form is best for you
  • The best way to take vitamin D and how to store a bottle after opening
  • 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

Join to unlock the full report and get full access to over 1,400 reviews

See the Full Review as a Member

Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/

Close
Additional Information
Tested through CL's Quality Certification Program prior to, or after initial posting of this Product Review.