Vitamin D Update - A Guide to Vitamin D Supplements
Vitamin D is essential for bone health and overall wellness. Still, many people don't get enough from sunlight or food alone. This guide helps you understand the different forms of vitamin D supplements available—including vitamin D2 (plant-based), vitamin D3 from animal sources (lanolin), and vegan vitamin D3 from lichen—so you can make an informed choice based on your dietary preferences and personal values. While vitamin D3 is more effective at raising vitamin D levels in your blood and is recommended by most medical guidelines, both vitamin D2 and D3 can successfully treat vitamin D deficiency when taken at appropriate doses with monitoring. Vitamin D3 from animal sources undergoes manufacturing processes that use certain extraction chemicals (such as n-hexane, EDTA, and ionic liquids), which should be removed before the final product is released. Currently, there are no studies that prove these chemicals are completely safe for long-term use, but there are also no studies showing they cause harm, and no cases of illness from these extraction chemicals have been reported in the medical literature. This handout provides detailed information about each option—including how they work, their effectiveness, safety considerations, and costs—to help you and your healthcare provider choose the best vitamin D supplement for your individual needs and preferences.
