NOW Foods Vitamin D-3 £3.99

NOW Foods Vitamin D-3

Name: NOW Foods Vitamin D-3
Brand: NOW Foods
SKU: 733739003744
Price: 3.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

Brands: NOW Foods

£3.99

If you want a daily dose of vitamin D without a cupboard full of separate bottles, this softgels option from NOW Foods is a sensible place to start.

Why people take it

Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system
Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth
Vitamin D contributes to normal muscle function
Vitamin D contributes to normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus

How to use

Take as directed on the pack, ideally with food and at the same time each day.

Good to know

Choose from 4 sizes: 30 softgels / 120 softgels / 240 softgels / 180 chewables
Format: softgels, plus a chewable option
Caffeine free

A food supplement, not a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the stated dose. Keep out of reach of children.

Size: 30 softgels

Strength: 5000 IU

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Categories : Caffeine-Free Supplements, Everyday Health Supplements, NOW Foods, Vitamin D Supplements, Vitamins & Supplements

SKU: 733739003744

At a glance

Strong

evidence for vitamin d3

Our honest take

NOW's plain vitamin D3 in several sizes: 1,000 IU (25 µg) chewables, 2,000 IU (50 µg) softgels and 5,000 IU (125 µg) softgels. The 1,000 and 2,000 IU options are good everyday doses for the UK winter, and the 240-count 2,000 IU pot is good value. The 5,000 IU softgels are above the 100 µg a day the NHS says not to exceed without medical advice, so they are not the right pick for general use.

You want a well-known brand of plain vitamin D3 at a fair price
You prefer a chewable (1,000 IU) or a small softgel (2,000 IU)
You have been told by a doctor to take a high dose (5,000 IU)
You are thinking of the 5,000 IU softgels without medical advice: they are above the UK daily limit
You already take another product with vitamin D: keep your total under 100 µg a day
You have kidney disease, sarcoidosis or high calcium levels: ask your GP first

The science

Vitamin D3· evidence: Strong

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the form the skin makes from sunlight. In the UK there is not enough strong sunlight from about October to March, so many people have low levels over winter. Good-quality trials show supplements reliably raise blood levels and correct deficiency, and that matters for bone health in people who are low.

The NHS advises everyone to consider 10 µg (400 IU) a day in autumn and winter, and all year round for people who get little sun, cover their skin, have darker skin or live in care homes. For people who already have adequate levels, large trials have not shown that extra vitamin D prevents falls, fractures or other illness.

In short: a modest daily dose is sensible and cheap insurance for most UK adults in winter. Very high doses are not better and should only be taken on medical advice.

Authorised health claim
Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal teeth. Vitamin D contributes to normal absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus. (Applies where a daily dose gives at least 15% of the NRV, i.e. 0.75 µg.)

Typical dose: 10 µg (400 IU) a day is the NHS advice for adults and children over 1. Doses of 25 µg (1,000 IU) to 50 µg (2,000 IU) are common and safe for adults. Babies under 1 need 8.5 to 10 µg a day unless they have more than 500 ml of formula.

Safety: Do not take more than 100 µg (4,000 IU) a day without medical advice (FSA/NHS); children aged 1 to 10 should not have more than 50 µg, and babies under 1 no more than 25 µg. Long-term very high intake can raise blood calcium, which can damage the kidneys and heart. People with kidney disease, sarcoidosis or high calcium levels should speak to their GP first.

Research we looked at:
NHS. Vitamin D. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). Vitamin D and Health. 2016.
EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin D. EFSA Journal 2023;21(8):8145.
Bolland MJ, Grey A, Avenell A. Effects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2018;6(11):847-858.

Ingredients & nutrition

Per daily dose (1 softgel or chewable): 1,000 IU chewables: vitamin D3 (from lanolin) 25 µg (500% NRV). 2,000 IU softgels: 50 µg (1,000% NRV). 5,000 IU softgels: 125 µg (2,500% NRV). One a day, so the pack count equals the number of days.

Other ingredients (softgels): extra virgin olive oil, softgel capsule (bovine gelatin, glycerin, water), safflower oil. Softgels are not suitable for vegetarians; vitamin D3 is from lanolin, so no version is vegan.

Always check the pack you receive, as manufacturers sometimes update recipes.

How to use

Take 1 a day, ideally with a meal containing some fat. Do not exceed the stated daily dose. Only use the 5,000 IU softgels on medical advice.

Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. General information, not medical advice. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.