Top 10 Best Vitamin D Supplements of 2025
Support your heart and bone health

Vitamin D supplements are products that promote optimal levels of vitamin D in the blood. You may have heard that vitamin D works with calcium to support healthy bones.

However, recent research has also shown that an increased intake of vitamin D can reduce the risk of heart attacks in men,¹ stave off sickness by supporting a stronger immune system,² and even reduce risk of death in those with cancer.³

Supplementation is a good idea because vitamin D is not common in natural sources. Though our bodies naturally make vitamin D when we’re in the sun, relying on sun exposure may not work, especially if you wear a lot of sunscreen.

Vitamin D supplements can come in the form of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) or vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Cholecalciferol is the form of vitamin D our bodies make from sunlight. Vitamin D2 is found in plant sources like mushrooms and is the type of supplement used to fortify foods like margarine and breakfast cereal.⁴

Vitamin D supplements are most commonly found in capsule form. For those with gut issues who may not tolerate capsules well, liquid vitamin D supplements are also an equally effective option.⁵

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What You Need to Know Before Choosing Vitamin D Supplements

When choosing a vitamin D supplement, look for one with 2,000-5,000 International Units (IUs) per daily serving. Studies show that this is the amount needed to support the optimal vitamin D concentrations in the blood.⁶

Although supplements come in two forms (D2 and D3), studies show that those containing D3 are the best vitamin D supplements as they are more effective at raising the body’s vitamin D levels.⁷ In the case of a vegan diet, you should take vitamin D2 supplements since vitamin D3 is derived from animal products.

Some supplements include other nutrients such as vitamin K. Some sources will tell you that vitamin D must be combined with vitamin K to get the heart health benefits, but the science behind this claim is inconclusive.⁸

If you take heart medications such as statins, vitamin D supplements may lower the effectiveness of these drugs. Supplementing with vitamin D can also raise calcium levels in your blood too high if you are taking diuretic medications. So please talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking supplements if you are on any medication.

Depending on the dosage, vitamin D supplements can range from $6 to $26. When eyeing those on the cheaper side, just check the label to make sure they deliver the adequate dose of 2,000-5,000 IUs of vitamin D.

How Long Does it Take for Vitamin D Supplements to Work?

When supplementing any vitamin or mineral, please know that more does not mean better. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means the excess is stored in your fat tissue rather than excreted in urine like water-soluble vitamins.

This means it’s much easier to accidentally reach toxic levels, which can result in severe side effects including kidney problems and calcium stones.

So, don’t take more than what’s recommended in the hopes of feeling better sooner or getting more health benefits. When taken correctly, the time it takes for you to see improvement with vitamin D supplementation depends on what your current levels are.⁴ If you are low, the Journal of Oncology Practice says that supplements start to work after three to four weeks.⁹

If you are obese and/or have a gastrointestinal disease that inhibits fat absorption, you’re probably low in vitamin D4. So, you’ll need to be patient and consistent with your supplementation.

However, if you start out at normal levels, you may see positive results sooner than 3-4 weeks. At the very least, you can benefit from the health-boosting effects of an increased intake of vitamin D.

Citations

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21653796

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21527855/

3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19523595/

4. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/.

5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32357579/

6. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/87/6/1952/4633503

7. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/95/6/1357/4568382

8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33119768/

9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20592785/