

“Both vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 increase levels of the vitamin in the blood, but D3 might lead to a greater and longer increase than D2,” explains Jinan Banna, R.D., Ph.D., associate professor of nutrition at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. If you see vitamins D2 and D3 on the store shelf, go with the latter.

Some factors to keep in mind while you shop: The good news is that finding a high-quality supplement doesn’t have to be hugely complicated. is an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.Īs with all supplements, not every bottle of vitamin D is created equal. Frances Largeman-Roth, R.D.N., is a nutrition expert and author of Smoothies & Juices: Prevention Healing Kitchen. For all these reasons, it’s critically important to keep your vitamin D stores at their optimal levels, which is why you should consider adding a daily supplement to your regimen. The nutrient helps keep inflammation levels in check, promotes healthy muscle function, and is even involved in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and brain function, according to the National Institutes of Health. Vitamin D works behind the scenes in other ways, too. “We need the vitamin for our bodies to be able to fight off viruses and bacteria,” explains Frances Largeman-Roth, R.D.N., nutrition expert and author of Smoothies & Juices: Prevention Healing Kitchen. It’s also a key player for immune health. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, so it’s especially important for keeping your bones healthy and reducing your risk of osteoporosis. Research shows many Americans are vitamin D deficient, says Arielle Levitan, M.D., author of The Vitamin Solution.īut getting enough of the nutrient is crucial. And yes, your body can also make vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Yes, you can get vitamin D from a handful of foods like eggs, fortified milk or cereal, fatty fish such as salmon, and some mushrooms.

But in the case of vitamin D, that can be tough. Most experts agree that it’s best to get your vitamins and minerals from food whenever possible. We updated this article in November 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.
