The 8 Best Vitamin D Supplements For Immunity, Bone Health & More*



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Vitamin D is a big topic right now—and considering an alarming 41% of American adults meet the criteria for insufficiency (meaning they have levels lower than 30 ng/ml) and 93% of U.S. adults aren't even getting 400 IU of this essential fat-soluble vitamin from their daily diet, it's well-deserving of the attention.
Given how tricky (OK, more like impossible) it is to get ample amounts of the nutrient from food and sunlight alone, taking a supplement is ultimately the route to achieving and sustaining an ideal vitamin D level—which is 50 ng/ml or higher—for life.*
The thing is, though, that all vitamin D supplements are not created equal. In fact, they're far from it.
Here are our top picks for getting the high-quality vitamin D you need (and in ample amounts) from your supplement routine.
Quick list:
- Best overall: vitamin D potency+, mindbodygreen
- Best vegan D3 tablet: Vitamin D3 from Organic Lichens, Truvani
- Best chewable D3: Chewable Vitamin D3 5,000 IU, NOW Foods
- Best kids' D3 gummy: Kids First Vitamin D3 Gummies, Nature Made
- Best liquid D3 for babies: Baby's Vitamin D3, Nordic Naturals
- Best D3 + K2 combo: Plant-Based D3+K2 2-in-1 Formula, Sports Research
- Best fermented D3: Vitamin D3 2,000 IU, MegaFood
- Best extra-high-potency D3 capsules: Vitamin D3 10,000 IU, Pure Encapsulations
Our Favorite Vitamin D Supplements
best overall: mindbodygreen vitamin D3 potency+

Best vegan: Truvani Vitamin D3 from Organic Lichens

Best chewable: NOW Chewable Vitamin D3 5,000 IU

Best gummy for kids: Nature Made Kids First Vitamin D Gummies

Best liquid for babies: Nordic Naturals Baby's Vitamin D3

Best D3+K2 combo: Sports Research Plant-Based D3+K2

Best fermented: MegaFood Vitamin D3 2,000 IU

Best extra high-potency: Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 10,000 IU

What to look for in a vitamin D supplement.
We've hand-selected the products featured here and recommend them wholeheartedly.
That said, we also want to give you the know-how to look for your own vitamin D supplements—or, at the very least, help you understand our selection process.
Here are a few must-have criteria when searching for a vitamin D supplement, according to mbg vice president of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN:
- Adults should look for a minimum of 2,000 I.U. per day (5,000 I.U. daily is best, but even more might be necessary if the person has higher body fat or if an individual's D deficiency is stubborn)* Note: Infants need 400 I.U. of vitamin D per day, while 1,000 I.U. daily is a healthy vitamin D dose for children and adolescents.
- Opt for vitamin D3 form (cholecalciferol), which is two to three times more potent than D2 (ergocalciferol).
- For animal-source D3, look for lanolin (derived from sheep's wool), which is high quality and affordable.
- For vegetarian or vegan D3 sources, look for algae or lichen (though algae is considered to be more sustainable, and organic algae is the most premium option).
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The benefits of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is crucial for whole-body health, interacting with the musculoskeletal, immune, neurological, thyroid, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems, among others.*
A few of vitamin D's noteworthy roles, in particular, that are worth calling out:
- It helps regulate the production of thyroid hormones.*
- During pregnancy, it promotes better maternal and infant outcomes related to bone density, immune function, fetal growth, maternal metabolic health, and more.*
- It supports immunity, promoting white blood cell function, helping the immune system adapt to and ward off threats, and more.*
- It does your gut good by playing a key role in the health and integrity of the gut mucosal lining.*
- It helps the body absorb and maintain the proper balance of calcium and phosphorus, which are both crucial for bone health.*
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The takeaway.
Supplementing with vitamin D is a simple (and typically necessary) way to ensure you get the daily vitamin D you need to hit and maintain healthy vitamin D status for life.*
Consult with your health care provider to identify your unique needs and goals, but know that these hand-selected supplements are a great place to start.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.
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Lauren Del Turco, CPT is a freelance health and wellness writer, editor, and content strategist who covers everything from nutrition to mental health to spirituality. Del Turco is also an ACE-certified personal trainer. She graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing. When she’s not on deadline, you’ll find Del Turco hiking with her dogs, experimenting with new plant-based recipes, or curled up with a book and tea.