Vegan Vitamin D3 5000 IU Supplement to Help Boost the Immune System

Vegan D3 is a dietary supplement containing plant-origins 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 is 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-sourced vitamin D3 (6).

What benefits are offered by the supplement Vegan D3?

Vitamin D, or calciferol, is a hormone with multiple benefits for our health. The supplement Vegan D3 thus helps:

• Boost the immune system and prevent respiratory problems (7-9);
• Support muscle function (10-11);
• Strengthen 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 is 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 is 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 suboptimal 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 is 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 is cloudy is negligible. But even during 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 do not synthesize as much vitamin D as our bodies need (24-25).

And older people’s skin produces even less of the vitamin (26).

Key dietary sources of vitamin D

Fortunately, the diet can provide us with additional vitamin D provided that you eat well-balanced meals. Therefore, you should try to regularly eat vitamin D-containing foods.

Omnivores can focus on fish and seafood (salmon, mackerel, eels...) but there are also vegan sources of vitamin D, such as mushrooms and sea lettuce.

An easy way of significantly boosting your intake is to take a vitamin D supplement such as Vegan D3. Many scientific studies recommend supplementation with vitamin D for the general population in order to compensate for the widespread and significant deficiencies (27-29).

Key strengths of the supplement Vegan D3

Vegan D3 supplement:

• Contains vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol. This form of vitamin D is 87% more active, bioavailable, and beneficial than D2 (30). Indeed, it is vitamin D3 that we synthesize when we expose our skin to the sun and that we obtain from animal products – as well as being the form in this particular algae.
• Offers a particularly powerful dosage of 5,000 IU per capsule. The efficacy of oral supplementation at this dose has been confirmed by several studies (31-33).
• Is suspended in a medium of MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) coconut oil to maximize the vitamin’s uptake by the body (34).
• Also contains 0.2% natural d-alpha tocopherol from sunflower oil. This form of vitamin E helps protect cells against oxidative stress (35).
• Is produced using a completely traceable and sustainable process, combined with constant quality and purity control.

Vegan D3 is of course 100% vegan; the vitamin D3 sourced from algae is combined with coconut triglycerides, as well as d-alpha tocopherol from sunflower oil. The capsule shell consists of plant-source gelatine made from tapioca starch.

Supplements to take in combination with Vegan D3

Are you wondering which supplements to take alongside vegan vitamin D3?

Our first recommendation is magnesium. This key trace-element helps reduce fatigue and boost the muscular and nervous systems. (36) The best choice is OptiMag, which consists of 8 forms of magnesium offering unrivaled bioavailability and solubility.

In addition, it is a good idea to combine the 'sunshine vitamin' with another important compound, vitamin K. Less well-known, vitamin K helps strengthen the bones and ensure good blood coagulation (37). The supplement Complete K offers the most active forms:menaquinone 4 (K2), and menaquinone 7 (another form of K2).

What Does the IU on the Label Mean?

Taking vegan vitamin D3 5,000 IU means adhering to the recommended daily dosage. As part of taking control of your own health, you need to know what is in your vegan vitamin D3 supplement. IU stands for International Unit, but what does it mean?

The definition of an international unit is the measurement of the biological effects that a biologically active substance has on the human body. It is an internationally recognized standard for understanding how powerful a vitamin or mineral is, based on medication standards acknowledged globally.

The easiest way to view IU when taking respiratory supplements, vitamin D3 for bone health, or any other type of vitamin/mineral is how much of a difference it will make to your body. Different forms of the same vitamin D3, for example, will have different effects on the body.

To boost your immune system levels, vegan vitamin D3 5,000 IU is an extremely powerful supplement. Many people believe that plant-based vitamin D3 5,000 IU stands for how much vitamin there is compared to its mass, but this is untrue. IU has no relation to mass or volume, only biological effectiveness.

This is also why 5,000 mg of plant-based vitamin D3 with a 5,000 IU rating will have a different effect compared to 5,000 mg of beta-carotene with a 3,000 IU rating. Most vitamins have a set IU rating to make it easier for you to take the correct amount.

In the case of vitamin D3 immune system supplements, 5,000 IU is the gold standard.

Potential Side Effects of Taking Vegan Vitamin D3 Softgels

Taking this supplement can mean improving your health, but you also need to be aware of any side effects. Doing your own research is always recommended so you can make an informed decision on the state of your health.

There are plenty of resources online for you to take advantage of, such as white papers, scientific studies, and even anecdotal evidence. Generally, the vegan vitamin D3 supplement is safe to take and has been well-studied for its effects.

Side effects are rare, but you should still be aware of what vitamin D3 immune system side effects can look like. To mitigate the risk of side effects, get in contact with your doctor to discuss any other prescription medications you may be taking. They will be able to access your medical records and determine whether you are at risk of any adverse reactions.

Finally, always ensure that you follow the recommended daily dosage. Countless instances of side effects can be traced back to people who take too much vegan vitamin D3 5,000 IU at one time.