The Best Vegan Vitamin D Supplements

Vitamin D is a vital nutrient that keeps our bones, teeth and muscles healthy. But, it’s something that most people don’t get enough of, particularly in winter.

The NHS recommends that everyone in the UK should take a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter and that some groups should take it all year round.

Vegans should know that most vitamin D supplements are not vegan-friendly as they contain animal-derived vitamin D3. However, some vitamin D supplements use plant-based vitamin D which is just as good as the animal version.

In this guide, I’ll compare several different brands of vegan vitamin D, so that you can choose the best one for your needs…

How to tell if you’re deficient in vitamin D

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency might include muscle weakness, back pain, weight gain, frequent infections, tiredness, anxiety and depression. However, many people don’t realise that they are deficient in vitamin D as symptoms are wide-ranging and generally subtle.

You can check your vitamin D levels easily at home with a simple finger prick test.

The Best Vegan Vitamin D Supplements

Contains: 63µg (2500IU) of Vitamin D3 (1250% NRV)

Dr. Vegan vitamin D3 capsules are made with only the highest quality ingredients that are easily absorbed by your body. They contain only the highest-quality ingredients and are free from sugar, wheat, artificial colours and preservatives.

Dr. Vegan is a 100% vegan company and these supplements are certified by The Vegan Society. The capsules are easy to swallow and have no taste or smell at all. You only need to take one per day.

With your first order, you’ll get a free pill tin worth £7 that you can use to store any medication or supplements that you take.

I swear by Dr. Vegan supplements and take Dr. Vegan multivitamin daily.

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Contains: 25µg (1000IU) of Vitamin D3 (500% NRV)

Just Vitamins Vegan Vitamin D3 capsules are a slightly cheaper alternative to Dr. Vegan capsules that come in a large bag of 120 capsules.

The ingredients aren’t necessarily of the same high quality as Dr Vegan and the capsules contain some extra ingredients like corn syrup and silicon dioxide. As a result, the capsules are a little larger, yet contain a much lower dose of vitamin D.

I do, however, like that these supplements come in compostable packaging that fits through your letterbox. You do have to pay extra for delivery though.

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Contains: 20µg (800IU) of Vitamin D3 & 20µg (800IU) of Vitamin D2 (800% NRV)

Veganicity Vitamin D Complex contains a combination of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 in small tablets.

Vitamin D3 is believed to be more effective than vitamin D2, but vitamin D2 is cheaper to produce. So these tablets may not be as potent as some others. Also, because they are tablets rather than capsules, the nutrients may be a little harder for your body to absorb.

I don’t particularly like the chalky texture of these tablets. You need to drink quite a lot of water with them.

While the bottle is made of recycled plastic and is recyclable, I do prefer brands that use paper packaging and that are letterbox-friendly.

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Contains: 25µg (1000IU) of Vitamin D3 (500% NRV)

MyVegan vitamin D3 softgels are easy to swallow with no smell or aftertaste. They come in a large bottle of 60 that will last for two months, making them a low-cost option.

Like many softgels, these supplements contain carrageenan. This is a seaweed extract that’s used as an alternative to gelatine. It has been linked to digestive issues in some people, although the World Health Organization says that it is safe.

Another downside to these supplements is the plastic packaging which will be too large to fit through your letterbox.

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Contains: 10µg (400IU) of Vitamin D3 (100% NRV)

Chewwies Vitamin D3 gummies are great for adults and kids aged three and over. They’re shaped like gummy bears and have a pleasant lemon flavour.

These gummies don’t contain a great deal of vitamin D, so if your aim is to replenish low levels then you may need to take more than one per day.

Parents should be aware that these vitamins come in a plastic bottle with no child-safe cap. Vitamin D overdoses can be dangerous, so they should always be locked away out of reach of children.

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Contains: 25µg (1000IU) of Vitamin D3 (500% NRV)

BetterYou Vegan Vitamin D Oral Spray is designed to be sprayed on the inside of your cheek. You need just one spray per day and don’t need to take it with food or water. However, you probably will want to have a drink afterwards as it leaves a bit of an oily residue in your mouth which doesn’t taste great.

Being a spray, this some in a plastic bottle. However, BetterYou uses 70% reclaimed ocean waste plastic and 30% recycled plastic to make the easy-to-use spray bottle.

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Which is the best vitamin D supplement for vegans?

Without a doubt, I would recommend Dr. Vegan Vitamin D as the best supplement for vegans. These easy-to-swallow capsules contain a potent dose of only the most high-quality ingredients.

Be sure to use discount code CV30 to get 30% OFF and claim your free pill tin.

FAQs About Vitamin D For Vegans

Can you get vitamin D from a plant-based diet?

You can get vitamin D from food and our bodies can also make it from sunlight. Between October and March, there’s not enough sunlight in the UK for us to make our own vitamin D, so we must get it from food or supplements.

Vitamin D is only found in a small number of foods such as oily fish, red meat, liver and eggs yolks. It’s also added to some food such as breakfast cereals, soy milk, spreads and orange juice.

It’s very difficult to get enough vitamin D from a vegan diet. You would need to eat a lot of mushrooms, tofu and fortified plant-based milk. As the nutrient values vary depending on to what extent these foods are fortified with vitamin D, it can be hard to know that you’re getting enough.

Therefore, the easiest way to be sure that you’re getting enough vitamin D as a vegan is to take a vegan multivitamin supplement. If you’re already deficient in vitamin D, however, this won’t be enough. You’ll need to boost your low vitamin D levels with a separate vitamin D supplement.

Can being vegan cause a vitamin D deficiency?

It wouldn’t be correct to say that being vegan is a cause of vitamin D deficiency. Most people who are deficient in vitamin D are not vegan.

A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrated that vegetarians and vegans were no more likely to experience a vitamin D deficiency. Other factors, such as skin pigmentation, sun exposure and the use of vitamin D supplements have a greater influence on vitamin D levels than diet.

That said, as omnivores can get additional vitamin D3 from meat, fish and eggs, vegans should take extra care to ensure that they supplement vitamin D, particularly during the winter months or if they do not receive sunlight on their skin.

What are the symptoms of low vitamin D?

Symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency may include bone pain and muscle weakness. However, even without symptoms, low vitamin D can lead to cardiovascular disease, cancer and bone deformities such as rickets.

Vitamin D can also play a role in preventing a number of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and multiple sclerosis. [Source]

How do vegans get more vitamin D?

The best way for vegans to get enough vitamin D is to take a supplement. This can be either a multivitamin supplement that contains vitamin D or a separate vitamin D supplement.

Suggested read: The Best Multivitamins for Vegans

Is vitamin D suitable for vegans?

Vegans should be aware that some types of vitamin D are not vegan-friendly.

There are two types of vitamin D:

• Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) – Derived from yeast or mushrooms and is always vegan-friendly
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) – May be derived from plants or animals so may not be vegan-friendly.

Which vitamin D is vegan?

Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is always suitable for vegans. However, vitamin D3 may be derived from a plant-based source like lichen or from an animal source such as sheep’s wool. If vitamin D3 is derived from an animal source then it’s not vegan-friendly, but it would still be suitable for vegetarians.

Why is vitamin D3 not vegan?

Most types of vitamin D3 are not vegan-friendly as they are made from cholecalciferol derived from lanolin. Lanolin is the grease that’s found in sheep’s wool. This is something that most vegans would wish to avoid.

However, it is possible to get vegan-friendly D3. Instead of using sheep, cholecalciferol can be derived from lichen – an organism made of fungus and algae.

Which vitamin D is best?

Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 have slightly different chemical structures and come from different sources, but they are both used interchangeably and both provide the same health benefits.

Vitamin D3 is typically more potent than D2, so it’s more effective in raising vitamin D levels in your bloodstream for a longer period than vitamin D2.

When it comes to choosing the best vitamin D3 source, plant-based vitamin D3 avoids the use of sheep’s wool. This is not only kinder to animals, but also better for the environment with a lower carbon footprint.

How much D3 should a vegan take daily?

The NHS recommends that all adults and children over 12 months old take a daily vitamin D supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter.

If you do not get enough sunlight because you’re not often outdoors, you usually wear clothes that cover most of your skin when outdoors or you have dark skin, then you may not make enough vitamin D from sunlight. In this case, you should take 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily throughout the year.

babies under 12 months should have a daily vitamin D supplement if they are breastfed. Infant formula is already fortified with vitamin D.

How to Choose The Best Vegan Vitamin D Supplement

As well as ensuring that the vitamin D that you buy is sourced from plants rather than animals, here are some other things that you should look out for when choosing the best vegan vitamin D supplements…

1. Capsules vs tablet

Vitamin supplements come in different forms, with capsules, tablets, sprays and gummies being the most popular options. Capsules are generally the best as they break down quickly in the stomach, allowing the nutrients to be absorbed as quickly and thoroughly as possible. They also don’t require any fillers to stick the ingredients together or sugar to adjust the taste.

2. Eco-friendly packaging

In 2022, there’s really no reason for vitamins to come in plastic bottles. Paper or compostable cellulose packaging is much kinder to the planet. Because vitamins packed in paper can be laid flat, they take up less space in delivery lorries than cylindrical bottles and fit through your letterbox, meaning that you’ll never have to worry about missing a delivery.

3. UK Companies

In the UK, the Food Standards Agency has strict rules and regulations concerning the manufacture of supplements. Other countries like China and the USA may not have the same high standards, so you should always buy from a trusted UK specialist for peace of mind.

My Recommendation:

I have been taking Dr. Vegan supplements for a while and I would wholeheartedly recommend the vegan vitamin D3. With Dr. Vegan I can relax knowing that only the highest quality ingredients are used and that everything is certified by The Vegan Society.

I also love that the packaging is eco-friendly and the free metal pill tin keep everything neat and tidy.

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