Your guide to a better future

Our bodies make vitamin D when we go in the sunlight. But most people aren't getting enough.

Taylor Leamey writes about all things wellness, specializing in mental health, sleep and nutrition coverage. She has invested hundreds of hours into studying and researching sleep and holds a Certified Sleep Science Coach certification from the Spencer Institute. Taylor also holds bachelor's degrees in both Psychology and Sociology.

Everyone knows vitamin D -- it's the nutrient we get from the sun. Vitamin D is important for several bodily functions, the main ones being bone and muscle strength and immune function. Still, about 35% of Americans are vitamin D deficient. Research has found that vitamin D deficiencies and diseases like depression, diabetes and cancer are correlated.

Vitamin D is essential. But with winter coming and food source limitations, getting vitamin D isn't always as easy as walking out in the sun . Supplements are used to combat such deficiencies. 

A note on units of measurement for vitamin D supplements -- different brands use different units in their marketing. Some measure in micrograms (mcg), while others use international units (IU). The nutritional label typically has both units and the percentage of the daily recommended value. It can get confusing. 

Quick conversions that will help you read this list:

Vitamin D supplements span quality, dosage and price point. There are many options, but we narrowed it down to the top eight best vitamin D supplements. 

Hum Nutrition Here Comes the Sun is the best overall vitamin D supplement because of its vitamin content and rigorous testing. According to the Hum Nutrition website, this vitamin D supplement boosts mood, maintains your immune system and aids calcium absorption. 

It's a non-GMO and gluten-free vitamin D supplement free of artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. With the serving size of one softgel, you get 250% of your recommended daily value of vitamin D. The vitamin D source was derived from lichen, which makes this vitamin D supplement great for vegans and vegetarians.

Hum Nutrition's vitamin D supplements are sustainably sourced and feature third-party testing. 

Price: $19 for a 30-day supply

Vitamin D per serving: 50 mcg or 250% of the daily value 

Serving size: One softgel, daily

Nature Made vitamin supplements are often my choice for budget shoppers because of the price, vitamin content and company reputation. The Nature Made Vitamin D3 Softgels are available in multiple dosages, so you can choose which works best for you. They have dosages from 25 mcg to a maximum of 250 mcg. 

You really can't beat the price of Nature Made. You can get up to a 250-day supply for under $20. Not to mention that the softgels are small and easy to swallow -- and you only have to take one per day. 

Price: $16.93 for a 250-day supply

Vitamin D per serving: 50 mcg or 250% of the daily value

Serving size: one softgel, daily

If you have trouble swallowing pills, liquid vitamin D options are available – the best of which is Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 liquid. 

It's a small bottle that's easy to transport, which allows you to add it to food anywhere. It's also flavorless. Liquid supplements give you the flexibility that capsule or pill supplements can't. You can also alter the dosage based on seasons and needs. Remember to always pay close attention to how much you're ingesting. 

This vitamin D supplement is sourced from lichen. It includes no artificial flavors and is gluten-free and non-GMO. Pure Encapsulation products are third-party tested by organizations like Advanced Laboratories, Eurofins and Intertek. 

Vitamin D per serving: 25 mcg or 125% of vitamin D of the daily value

Serving size: One drop, daily

For people who need a higher dose of vitamin D, -- those with malabsorption syndromes, osteoporosis or liver failure -- Life Extension Vitamin D3 supplement is a good choice. Most vitamin D supplements have 25 mcg to 50 mcg. The vitamin D supplement from Life Extension offers 125 mcg or 5,000 IU, which is significantly more than other brands.

Given this vitamin D supplement has such a high dosage, it's important to speak to your doctor before taking it. It shouldn't be taken by the average person who doesn't need a huge boost of vitamin D. Life Extension's bottle label advises you to meet with your doctor for regular blood tests to determine your vitamin D levels. 

Price: $15.17 for a 120-day supply

Vitamin D per serving: 125 mcg or 625% of the daily value

Serving size: one softgel, daily

Many vitamin D supplements happen to be vegan. However, Truvani is the best vegan vitamin D supplement. It's a plant-based and USDA-certified organic supplement sourced from organic lichens that doesn't include additives or processed ingredients. This vitamin D supplement has an average amount of vitamin D at 50 mcg. This vitamin D supplement comes in a small, uncoated tablet. It's easy to swallow, but you can also add it to smoothies or drinks and let it dissolve. 

Price: $14.99 for a 30-day supply

Vitamin D per serving: 50 mcg or 250% of the daily value

Serving size: one tablet, daily

Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3 Gummies are an all-natural supplement free of artificial sugars or additives. With this vitamin D supplement, you get a solid dose of vitamin D without all the extras that gummy vitamins tend to have. 

This gummy vitamin D supplement features a wild berry flavor with organic sucrose and fumaric acid sour berry coating. An important thing to note is that while the sugars included are not artificial (organic sugar cane and organic tapioca syrup), there are still two grams of added sugar in this product. It's not the highest I've seen, but it's something to consider if you watch your sugar intake closely. Added sugars are extremely common in the gummy industry -- that's how they get their delicious flavors. Unlike other brands, Nordic Naturals also offers a zero-sugar version sweetened with xylitol.

Price: $12.07 for a 30-day supply

Vitamin D per serving: 25 mcg or 125% of the daily value.

Ritual is a well-known vitamin subscription service. It's the best multivitamin with vitamin D because of its traceable ingredients and dense nutrient content. According to Ritual, the Essential Multivitamin helps bone health, brain health and immune function. 

Ritual multivitamins include a vegan D3 ingredient made from UK-sourced lichen. With each serving, you get 50 mcg of vitamin D, double what some supplements offer. Since it's a multivitamin, you get additional nutrients like folate and iron. 

Ritual supplements are backed by a clinical study that found that the Ritual Essential Multivitamin for Women resulted in a 43% increase in vitamin D levels. It's worth noting that Ritual was involved in the study. 

Price: $30 for a 30-day supply

Vitamin D per serving: 50 mcg or 250% of the daily value.

Serving size: two capsules, daily

Vitamin D is essential for pregnancy as it aids in the development of a baby's bones. Vitamin D deficiencies during pregnancy have been linked to newborns' disordered skeletal homeostasis or fractures. Experts recommend that pregnant women intake up to 4,000 IU (100 mcg) of vitamin D3 daily to prevent preterm births and infections. 

Most vitamin D supplements don't offer that much vitamin D3 per serving. However, the FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin does. Developed by a fertility nutrition expert, FullWell supplements are non-GMO and free of common allergens like nuts, dairy, gluten and shellfish. 

FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin includes the recommended 4,000 IU of vitamin D and all other nutrients a pregnant person needs -- like vitamins A, V, E and B6. This supplement also offers a hefty dose of pantothenic acid at 2,143% daily value and biotin at 1,429%. 

Price: $49.95 for a 30-day supply

Vitamin D per serving: 100 mcg or 667% of the daily value

Serving size: eight capsules, daily 

When choosing the best vitamin D supplements for this list, we considered factors like price, dosage and vitamin D source. We also paid close attention to third-party certifications that the products carry. Due to the limited FDA regulations in the vitamin and supplement industry, third-party testing and certifications are essential to determine product quality and purity. We did not test these products in-house. We relied on customer reviews for things like taste and ease of swallowing. 

Our bodies need vitamin D, and as a result, there are a ton of supplements out there with vitamin D in them. From pure vitamin D supplements to multivitamins or prenatal supplements, there tends to be vitamin D in all of them. So which vitamin D supplement should you buy? 

When shopping for vitamin D supplements, keep these key factors in mind:

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that our bodies need to maintain healthy bones and teeth. It allows the body to properly absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D is also important for regulating inflammation and immune function in the body. 

Our bodies create vitamin D when exposed to the sun. Still, vitamin D deficiencies are extremely common. Some are more likely to develop a deficiency than others, which requires supplementation, including people who live in cold or dark areas that don't get much sunlight, older adults, pregnant people or people with darker skin tones. Pigmentation can block sunlight absorption. Because of this, Americans of color have a deficiency rate of 70%.

Read more: Vitamin D Is Crucial for Immune Health -- Make Sure You're Getting Enough

Common symptoms of vitamin D deficiencies:

Vitamin D is broken down into two main forms -- vitamin D2 and D3. The difference is where they come from. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is found in plant sources like mushrooms or fungi. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol is derived from animal sources. 

Unlike other nutrients, our bodies store vitamin D in fat cells, which allow them to release it when needed. Many supplements with higher doses of vitamin D are not designed to be taken each day since there likely already is some stored in the body. Taking too much vitamin D can result in stomach discomfort, weight loss and kidney issues. A lower vitamin D supplement is considered safe, particularly if you're deficient in vitamin D.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.