Vegan D3 is a dietary supplement containing plant-origin vitamin D3. It is sourced from non-GMO algae, which is completely pesticide-free.
As you know, vitamin D is essential for human health. It plays a part in immunity, the muscular system, bone health, blood calcium levels, cell division, etc. (1) D3 (also known as cholecalciferol), is known to be the most bioavailable form of vitamin D for the human body (2).
Vegan D3 also contains fatty acids from coconut oil, Since vitamin D is fat-soluble, the addition of fatty acids ensures that the vitamin is optimally absorbed into the bloodstream, for rapid, effective results (3).
A recent revolution: vegan vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 supplements are normally sourced from fish oil or lanolin, a type of wax present in sheep’s wool. Our other vitamin D supplements, for example, are all composed of lanolin. But science has recently shown that it’s possible to develop supplements from 100% vegan vitamin D3 obtained from algae(4).
The introduction of vegan supplements comes in response to growing awareness of animal sentience and environmental issues. Vegan D3 thus enables you to gain the benefits of vitamin D3 without causing suffering to fish, or encouraging over-fishing which threatens our oceans, or necessitating the rearing of sheep for wool, which contributes to global warming, etc. (5)
We should straightaway clarify that this vegan D3 has exactly the same chemical structure and efficacy as animal-source vitamin D3 (6).
What benefits are offered by the supplement Vegan D3?
Vitamin D, or calciferol, is a hormone with multiple benefits for health. The supplement Vegan D3 thus helps to:
- boost the immune system and prevent respiratory problems (7-9) ;
- support muscle function (10-11) ;
- strengthen the bones and teeth (12-13) ;
- regulate calcium levels in the blood (14) ;
- ensure good absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus (15) ;
- reduce the risk of falls associated with postural instability and muscle weakness. Falling is a major risk factor for fractures in those aged 60 and over (16-17) ;
- support cell division(18-19).
Deficiency in vitamin D: a worrying and common problem
Despite the crucial importance of this vitamin, deficiency in vitamin D is surprisingly common. Indeed, it’s currently one of the most widespread and concerning deficiencies in the population.
A normal blood level for vitamin D is considered to be 30 ng/mL, but in many countries, the majority of the population have levels below the recommended threshold (20).
And that’s without taking into account the adverse effect of advancing age on vitamin D levels. In Europe, studies have shown that as many as 80% of older people have sub-optimal levels of vitamin D (21-22).
Yet the fact is that a lack of vitamin D is associated with many kinds of health problems: respiratory concerns, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, mental health issues, corruption of cells, etc. (23)
Why is vitamin D deficiency so widespread?
As you know, the body produces vitamin D when the skin is exposed to the sun, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’. The problem is that for the majority of us, sunshine does not provide enough.
To start with, the benefit we get from the sun in winter, or when it’s cloudy, is negligible. But even in summer, our modern way of life means we tend to spend more time indoors (working in an office or workshop, doing domestic chores, certain routines ...) and we don’t synthesise as much vitamin D as our bodies need (24-25).
And older people’s skin produces even less of the vitamin (26).
Daily dose: 1 softgel
Number of doses per pack: 60 |
Amount per dose |
plant-source vitamin D3 |
5000IU |
Other ingredients: sunflower oil. Plant-source gelatine shell. |
Adults. Take one softgel a day.
Before taking doses over 2000IU a day, it’s advisable to take a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test. If you suffer from kidney disease, do not take vitamin D3 without the advice of your therapist. Do not exceed 10,000IU a day, all sources combined, except on your therapist’s recommendation.
- EU Register of nutrition and health claims made on foods (v.3.5)
- Lehmann U, Hirche F, Stangl GI, Hinz K, Westphal S, Dierkes J. Bioavailability of vitamin D(2) and D(3) in healthy volunteers, a randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov;98(11):4339-45. doi: 10.1210/jc.2012-4287. Epub 2013 Sep 3. PMID: 24001747.
- Reddy P, Jialal I. Biochemistry, Fat Soluble Vitamins. [Updated 2020 Sep 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534869/
- Jäpelt RB, Jakobsen J. Vitamin D in plants: a review of occurrence, analysis, and biosynthesis. Front Plant Sci. 2013 May 13;4:136. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00136. PMID: 23717318; PMCID: PMC3651966.
- Joy A, Dunshea FR, Leury BJ, Clarke IJ, DiGiacomo K, Chauhan SS. Resilience of Small Ruminants to Climate Change and Increased Environmental Temperature: A Review. Animals (Basel). 2020;10(5):867. Published 2020 May 17. doi:10.3390/ani10050867
- Jäpelt RB, Jakobsen J. Vitamin D in plants: a review of occurrence, analysis, and biosynthesis. Front Plant Sci. 2013 May 13;4:136. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00136. PMID: 23717318; PMCID: PMC3651966.
- EU Register of nutrition and health claims made on foods (v.3.5)
- Aranow C. Vitamin D and the immune system. J Investig Med. 2011;59(6):881-886. doi:10.2310/JIM.0b013e31821b8755
- Charan J, Goyal JP, Saxena D, Yadav P. Vitamin D for prevention of respiratory tract infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2012;3(4):300-303. doi:10.4103/0976-500X.103685
- Rejnmark L. Effects of vitamin d on muscle function and performance: a review of evidence from randomized controlled trials. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2011;2(1):25-37. doi:10.1177/2040622310381934
- Halfon M, Phan O, Teta D. Vitamin D: a review on its effects on muscle strength, the risk of fall, and frailty. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:953241. doi:10.1155/2015/953241
- Laird E, Ward M, McSorley E, Strain JJ, Wallace J. Vitamin D and bone health: potential mechanisms. Nutrients. 2010;2(7):693-724. doi:10.3390/nu2070693
- Botelho J, Machado V, Proença L, Delgado AS, Mendes JJ. Vitamin D Deficiency and Oral Health: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients. 2020;12(5):1471. Published 2020 May 19. doi:10.3390/nu12051471
- Chauhan K, Shahrokhi M, Huecker MR. Vitamin D. [Updated 2020 Oct 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441912/
- Nair R, Maseeh A. Vitamin D: The "sunshine" vitamin. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2012;3(2):118-126. doi:10.4103/0976-500X.95506
- Halfon M, Phan O, Teta D. Vitamin D: a review on its effects on muscle strength, the risk of fall, and frailty. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:953241. doi:10.1155/2015/953241
- Kalyani RR, Stein B, Valiyil R, Manno R, Maynard JW, Crews DC. Vitamin D treatment for the prevention of falls in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010;58(7):1299-1310. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02949.x
- Young MRI, Xiong Y. Influence of vitamin D on cancer risk and treatment: Why the variability?. Trends Cancer Res. 2018;13:43-53.
- Garland CF, Garland FC, Gorham ED, et al. The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention. Am J Public Health. 2006;96(2):252-261. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2004.045260
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