The 8 Best Vitamin D Supplements For Immunity, Bone Health & More*
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 approximately 92% of men and more than 97% of women 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 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
The benefits of a vitamin D supplement
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.*
How we chose
At mindbodygreen, our expert-vetted dietary supplement product selections and recommendations in the supplement space elevate quality, efficacy, innovation, and safety.
Our team ensures that each supplement product is thoughtfully formulated--from the active ingredients to those "Other ingredient" excipients too.
We are highly preferential towards clean formulas that are plant-centric (and oftentimes vegan or vegetarian) as well as free of GMOs, gluten, soy, dairy, major food allergens, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, synthetic dyes, and more.
Overall, we recommend products with clean ingredients at efficacious doses in bioactive forms. Whenever possible, we celebrate and elevate plant-origin (i.e., plant-sourced) ingredients from a variety of botanicals.
Ingredient source and innovation are top of mind for our critical reviews and selection of supplement products. We prioritize forward-thinking formulations and delivery formats that are genuinely helpful in transforming your health.
We included vitamin d supplement brands and products that prioritize quality. This includes robust manufacturing practices and comprehensive purity and potency testing.
You can learn more about mindbodygreen supplements+ manufacturing and quality testing practices here.
mbg's picks for the best vitamin D supplements of 2022
Best overall: mindbodygreen vitamin D3 potency+
Pros
- High-potency organic algal vitamin D3 source
- Trio of organic oils for built-in absorption technology
- Supports bone, teeth, muscle, & immune health*
- Sustainable algal source
- Sustainable packaging
Cons
- Not vegan
Offering 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 per single gelcap serving, mbg's vitamin D3 potency+ is derived from organic algae, the highest quality plant source available. It also features a unique trio of organic virgin oils (from avocados, flaxseed, and olives) to drive optimal vitamin D absorption, in addition to delivering healthy omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and pro-metabolic health properties. Just one gelcap of this one-of-a-kind formulation daily promotes vitamin D sufficiency for life. This is the latest in vitamin D technology (plus, GMO-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free).*
Best vegan: Truvani Vitamin D3 from Organic Lichens
Pros
- Plant-based
- USDA certified organic
- Dissolvable in liquid
Cons
- Lichen source lacks sustainability
A lower potency dose (2,000 IU) and sourced from organic lichens, Truvani's vitamin D3 supplement comes in the form of an uncoated tablet. It's completely vegetarian- and vegan-friendly. Though it's plenty small enough to swallow easily, you can also crush it up or dissolve it into smoothies or other foods. It's also free of corn byproducts, artificial ingredients, and other unnecessary additives, but you will find organic tapioca, rice hulls, and acacia fiber.
Pros
- Chewable delivery format
- Mint flavor
- Clinically useful dose
Cons
- Contains sugar alcohols
- Long list of “other ingredients"
If you have trouble swallowing supplements, this option from NOW comes in a tasty chewable form with a natural mint flavor. To address most people's high vitamin D needs given lack of sun exposure and limited food sources high in the nutrient, this supplement provides 5,000 IU of D3. (FYI: A little natural color variation may occur; nothing to worry about!) Some folks have GI considerations with sugar alcohols, so we'll mention that those are in this formula, just in case.
Best gummy for kids: Nature Made Kids First Vitamin D Gummies
Pros
- Child-friendly delivery format
- Natural fruit flavors
- No artificial sugars or HFCS
- Large servings per container
Cons
- Contains sugar
- Long list of “other ingredients”
These strawberry-, peach-, and mango-flavored gummies provide kids from ages four to 18 with 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 to support healthy bone and tooth development.* Made with natural fruit flavors and colors derived from natural sources, they're free of high-fructose corn syrup, gluten, artificial flavors, and artificial sweeteners. This is a nutrition ritual that kids look forward to!
Best liquid for babies: Nordic Naturals Baby's Vitamin D3
Pros
- Ideal format for infants
- Supports baby’s daily vitamin D needs
- Can be added to breast milk, baby food, etc.
Cons
- Unclear how many servings provided per bottle
Third-party purity tested and non-GMO verified, Nordic Naturals' liquid vitamin D3 formula for babies offers 400 IU of D3 per serving. Made with organic extra-virgin olive oil, it's free from gluten, milk derivatives, and anything artificial—and comes with a measured dropper so it can be easily added to formula or breast milk. This pick also just so happens to be the official baby's vitamin D3 supplement pick of the American Pregnancy Association.
Best D3+K2 combo: Sports Research Plant-Based D3+K2
Pros
- Plant-based formula
- Two essential fat-soluble vitamins in one formula
Cons
- Contains coconut oil, which may not be suitable for those with a nut allergy
- Lichen source lacks sustainability
- Plastic packaging
Sports Research's unique plant-based supplement combines 5,000 IU of vegan vitamin D3 from lichen with 100 mcg of vitamin K2 derived from chickpeas, plus virgin coconut oil, in a plant-based capsule. The end result: a vegan certified and non-GMO combo supplement. Note: While D3 and K2 are not combined for absorption reasons (common misconception), they are both awesome fat-soluble vitamins.
Pros
- Features brewer’s yeast
- Botanical and herb blend
Cons
- Long list of “other ingredients”
- Not vegan
MegaFood's vitamin D3 supplement provides 2,000 IU of fermented cholecalciferol, plus a blend of organic whole foods that provide synergistic cofactors, which includes organic broccoli, parsley, carrot, and beet root. In all, the supplement is free from glyphosate residue, gluten, dairy, and soy, and is Non-GMO Project verified and vegetarian, making it a versatile option for upping your vitamin D intake.
Best extra high-potency: Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 10,000 IU
Pros
- Formulated for vitamin D deficiency
- Available in 60 or 120 capsules
- Short ingredient list
Cons
- Not vegan
- Plastic bottle
If you're in need of extra-high doses of vitamin D, Pure Encapsulations' D3 supplement offers 10,000 IU per serving. This vegetarian, non-GMO, certified gluten-free option is a simple but potent supplement for supporting bone health and more.*
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.
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:
- 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).
How much vitamin D do you need?
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
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.
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.