Top 5 Vitamin D Supplements – Full Analysis, Reviews & Buying Guide (2023)

Vitamin D is referred to as the “sunshine” vitamin because the skin produces it when exposed to sunlight. It is vital for calcium and phosphorus absorption hence its importance to our bones and overall health [*].

Vitamin D deficiency causes bone weakness, bone deformities, and increased risk of fall and bone fractures among the elderly [**].  Vitamin D also plays a role in preventing diseases such as heart disease, autoimmune disease, type-2 diabetes, and depression [*]. 

Over half of the world’s population are vitamin D deficient. Individuals who spend a lot of time indoors, and have minimal outdoor activities may not get enough sunlight. Environmental factors such as changing seasons and air pollution can also reduce sunlight exposure [**]. 

Groups of people who are at risk of vitamin D deficiency include: older adults, people with limited sun exposure, people with dark skin, people with fat malabsorption, individuals that are obese or undergone gastric bypass surgery [*]. 

Vitamin D supplementation is suggested for individuals who are deficient [**]. 

Besides the skin producing vitamin D from sunlight, it can also be sourced from food. There is vitamin D2 from mushrooms, and vitamin D3 from fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and other food [*]. 

There are also a wide variety of supplements that contain vitamin D as a single ingredient or part of a blend. Vitamin D supplements are often marketed for bone and muscle health, immune support, and mood support. 

The popularity of Vitamin D has led to hundreds of brands flooding the marketplace; however not all supplements are created equal! Unfortunately, more than 90% of Vitamin D supplements in the market simply DON’T WORK!

We understand the challenges in finding the right supplement for your health needs. That’s why we gathered years of research and made this guide to help you find the top-rated formulas that work for you.

Things To Be Cautious About

Has your brand been third-party tested? You should never buy supplements that don’t have Certificate of Analysis. The studies should be conducted in labs that are not affiliated with the manufacturer. These labs verify the product for safety and potency.

Does your vitamin d contain cheap synthetic fillers? Some brands add artificial fillers to cut cost to offer cheap products. Some of these cheap fillers we found were titanium dioxide and artificial coloring. You should never purchase cheap products when it comes to supplements.

No return policy or customer service – A reputable supplement company will offer 100% money-back guarantee policy and provide customer support through phone number and email. We noticed many formulas out there are just copies of the top-rated brands. They don’t offer an easy refund policy or don’t even have a phone number to prove they are real.

Top 5 Vitamin D Supplements

The result: we reviewed over 100+ brands of Vitamin D Supplements in the market and complied a list of top 5 formulas based on effectiveness, safety, pricing, return policy, and overall customer satisfaction.

1. PureNature K2 D3

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

2. Douglas Vitamin D

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

3. NatureMade D3

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

4. Now Vitamin D3

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

5. Doctor’s Best Vegan D3

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

Ranking Factors

Shipping & Return Policy: we check the shipping and return policy of each recommended product to make sure these brands stand behind their products.

Customer Service: we contact the top rated brands through email, chat or phone to make sure they are responsive and can answer potential questions customers might have.

Essential Ingredients: we verify the ingredients in every top rated brands, their safety and dosage amount in comparison with the latest scientific studies.

Overall Effectiveness: we check with real customers through their reviews and testimonials to make sure the top brands are as effective as they claim to be. We recommend the top 5 formulas based on their average score.

We highly recommend our reader to do their own research, read real reviews and contact any brands directly to make sure they can provide the products and services based on their needs.

*This is a subjective assessment based on the strength of the available information and our independent research and customer feedback. Results may vary based on individual.

Disclosure of Material Connection: we only recommend products and services which we believe will add value to the users. However, you should assume the owner of this website and/or blog has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection, to any suppliers of goods and services that may be discussed here and may be compensated for showing ads or recommending products or services or linking to the supplier’s website.

Sources and Citations

1. Vitamin D: The “sunshine” vitamin https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3356951/
2. Impact of Nutritional and Environmental Factors on Vitamin D Deficiency https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6249461/