In this article, you will learn everything you need to consider before purchasing high-quality vitamin D supplements.
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Table of contents
1. Which vitamin D is the best?
If you want to buy vitamin D, you will notice that there are different vitamin D variants called vitamin D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5.
However, when we talk about natural vitamin D supplements or preparations, we usually refer to vitamin D3 . The variants D1, D2, D4, and D5 are always produced synthetically.
To produce vitamin D3 , we need the body's own provitamin 7-dehydrocholesterol . Only when UV radiation and the provitamin interact is vitamin D3 produced in the skin .
However, we can support this process with certain foods: Vitamin D3 is found in liver and fatty fish , among other foods. Butter , margarine , milk , and egg yolk are considered good vegetarian sources of vitamin D3. Therefore, the vitamin D contained in vitamin D3 supplements is always derived from animal products [1].
Vitamin D2, on the other hand, is marketed by many manufacturers as a vegan alternative to D3. It is extracted from lichen-like plants , which, however, must first be synthesized.
It is extracted from the provitamin ergosterol through treatment with light and heat. This is found in its natural form primarily in fungi.
However, most supplements on the market contain vitamin D3 . Although both forms of vitamin D were long considered equally effective, studies have now shown the animal-derived variant to be significantly more effective [2].
2. Can you buy vitamin D without a prescription?
Yes, you can! High-quality vitamin D supplements are available both online and offline in many different forms. When purchasing, the most important factors are the dosage, the quality of the ingredients, and the type of vitamin (D2, D3). Of course, there are also very high-dose , pharmacy -only, and prescription-only preparations .
These do not fall into the category of over-the-counter supplements, but rather into the class of pharmaceutical products. You should always consult your doctor or pharmacist before purchasing such a product.
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3. Where can you buy vitamin D?
It depends on what kind of supplement you want to buy. There are many different places to go . Prescription supplements are prescribed by a doctor and purchased at a pharmacy; other pharmaceutical products containing vitamin D can be purchased at the pharmacy after a brief consultation.
In addition, there is also a large selection of tablets , capsules and drops with vitamin D that you can buy in drugstores , on Amazon or in supplement shops.
Many suppliers sell their products directly in their own shops, so you can get detailed information about the brand, quality, and the manufacturer's other product range.
The advantage of this, of course, is that you're not just buying a product, but also a specific quality promise. Unlike with constantly changing suppliers, you don't have to constantly check whether the dosage is high enough, whether it contains lactose, etc.
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4. What vitamin D supplements are available?
Over-the-counter vitamin D supplements are available as tablets , capsules , or drops . While there's nothing wrong with tablets and capsules in principle, for many consumers they have the disadvantage that they often contain additional ingredients that aren't always necessary.
Drops have the advantage of eliminating things like synthetic coating and capsule shells. This makes them just as easy to dose , but often better tolerated . It's best to choose a supplement that contains high-quality vitamin D3 as well as K2 . This significantly increases the bioavailability of your vitamin D!
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5. What function does vitamin D have in the body?
Vitamin D performs many important functions in the body. It is involved in many metabolic processes . It influences the production of various hormones and supports your immune system .
At the same time, vitamin D synthesis depends more heavily on various factors than other vitamins. These include: season, clothing, and length of sun exposure. Age and skin type. Light skin types need less sunlight than dark skin types.
Their sensitive skin reacts more quickly to UV radiation and thus also produces vitamin D more quickly. At the same time, very high-necked clothing and a short weekly time spent outdoors can significantly impair this process [3].
Almost 50% of the world's population experiences a seasonal vitamin D deficiency, especially in the cold and sun-poor winter months, but fortunately this can be quickly compensated for in the spring or with the help of supplements [4]
6. How do you diagnose a vitamin D deficiency?
To determine a vitamin D deficiency , a blood test is usually required . The amount of nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood is analyzed. Values of approximately 30 nanograms/ml or more are considered ideal.
If your level is below this, you have a vitamin D deficiency. Depending on the severity of the deficiency and what your doctor suspects to be the cause, he or she will suggest various treatment options or supplementation with a suitable product.
7. Where can you get a vitamin D test?
If you think you're suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, you can simply ask your doctor about a blood test . In addition to blood tests, you can now also easily perform a self-test at home . You can get these tests either at the pharmacy or online from mail-order pharmacies or from the providers' online shops.
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8. Conclusion
There's a wide range of different vitamin D supplements available. Before purchasing, you should consider which dosage, type, and delivery format of the vitamin is best for you.
If you suspect a severe vitamin D deficiency, you should consider getting tested and consulted by a doctor. Many high-quality supplements are now available online or directly from the manufacturer. You can choose between capsules, tablets, and drops.
Since studies have shown vitamin D3 to be more effective than D2, you should opt for the animal-derived version whenever possible. Drop-form supplements are particularly beneficial, as they do not require an artificial coating and often also contain additional K2.
9. Sources
[1] Ross, A.C.; Taylor, C.L.; Yaktine, AL (2011), Institute of Medicine (US), Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium, National Academies Press, Washington DC, partly available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56061/.
[2] Tripkovic, L.; Wilson, L.R.; [...]; Lanham-New, SA (2017), Daily supplementation with 15 μg vitamin D2 compared with vitamin D3 to increase wintertime 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in healthy South Asian and white European women: a 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled food-fortification trial, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 106, Issue 2, p. 481-490, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28679555/.
[3] Utami Gani, L.; [...]; How How, C. (2015), Vitamin D Deficiency, Singapore Medical Journal, Volume 56, Issue 8, p. 433-437, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4545131/. [4] Nair, R.; Maseeh, A. (2012), Vitamin D: The “sunshine” vitamin, Journal of Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics, Volume 3, Issue 2, p.118-126, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3356951/.
