Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a key vitamin for our bone health. There are several forms of vitamin D, the two compounds most important for humans are vitamin D3 and vitamin D2.
Our skin produces the compound vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) naturally when it is exposed to sunlight (UVB) but we might not always get enough sunlight to produce the amount of D3 that we need. Especially during the winter months.
Vitamin D can be found in certain foods but it’s very limited in a vegan diet. The only natural sources are fatty fish, eggs (if the chicken has been fed vitamin D) and mushrooms (if they have been treated with UV).
If you aren’t producing enough D3 naturally from the sun, it could be best to take a supplement so that you can meet your daily requirements.
As well as helping to maintain bone health, vitamin D has a whole range of benefits include supporting our:
- immune system
- nervous system
- brain function
- cardiovascular system
Recent studies suggest that Vitamin D can also protect against type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cancer.
It can be overwhelming looking at all the different types of supplement on the market, never mind working out which are actually vegan.
Most Vitamin D supplements are in the forms D3 (cholecalciferol) and D2 (ergocalciferol).
Cholecalciferol is considered to be the most important for our health. It is usually sourced from sheep’s lanolin so it’s important to check the label before purchasing. A common vegan alternative source of vitamin D3 is lichens.
The US Institute of Medicine recommends the following intake of vitamin D:
- Infants 0-12 months – 400 IU (10 mcg).
- Children 1-18 years – 600 IU (15 mcg).
- Adults to age 70 – 600 IU (15 mcg).
- Adults over 70 – 800 IU (20 mcg).
Top Selling All Vegan Vitamin D Supplements
To help narrow down your search we have put together a list of some of the top-selling vegan vitamin D3 supplements.
Make sure to check with your doctor before taking a new supplement so you know you are getting the right dosage for you.
Click the images to check the pricing and customer reviews for each.
3. Real Dose - Doctor Formulated Vegan Vitamin D3
1000IU Cholecalciferol, Non-GMO and gluten-free 365 day money back guarantee
Sources: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161618.php Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2010