Vitamin D3 2000 IU | 120 Softgels | NOW Foods

Vitamin D3 2000 IU by NOW Foods

This softgel from NOW Foods contains 2000 IU of vitamin D3, or 50 micrograms, dissolved in extra virgin olive oil. That is a higher strength than most daily vitamin D products in the drugstore. If in doubt about the right dosage, consult your doctor. With 120 softgels, you have a four-month supply at 1 softgel per day.

50 micrograms, how does that compare to the advice

The basic advice of the Health Council for adults is between 10 and 20 micrograms per day. This softgel provides 50 micrograms, so clearly more. At the same time, that remains half of the safe upper limit of 100 micrograms per day that the European Food Safety Authority EFSA uses for adults. In practice, that means: a higher dose, but within what is considered safe for daily use by adults. It is wise, however, with this strength to add up what else you are getting, for example through a multivitamin or fortified products. If you are unsure about what suits you, consult your doctor.

How your body processes vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is a fat-soluble vitamin. After intake, your body stores it in fat tissue and the liver, and converts it step by step into the active form. That active form works as a kind of signaling substance that tells cells how much calcium needs to be absorbed. Vitamin D contributes to normal calcium levels in the blood. Vitamin D also contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and plays a role in the cell division process. In addition, vitamin D contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system. For the elderly, there is a specific claim: vitamin D helps to reduce the risks of falling, in connection with postural instability and muscle weakness. Falling is a risk factor for bone fractures in men and women from 60 years onwards. The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 20 µg of vitamin D from all sources. This claim applies to men and women from 60 years onwards.

Olive oil and safflower oil as a carrier

Because vitamin D dissolves in fat, it is dissolved in this softgel in extra virgin olive oil, supplemented with a little safflower oil. Those oils ensure that the vitamin is evenly distributed and that there is always a fat source included. Still, preferably take the softgel with a meal. The vitamin D3 itself is obtained from lanolin, the fat from sheep's wool, and the softgel shell is made of beef gelatin. Therefore, this product is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. By the way, because your body stores vitamin D, it doesn't matter if you skip a day once. Then just take 1 softgel again the next day, and no double dose.

Good to know: vitamin D contributes to the normal functioning of the muscles and to the maintenance of normal teeth. NOW Foods produces in a GMP-certified facility.

For those who consciously choose a higher daily dose of vitamin D3, this is a simple solution: one small softgel, without fillers, with a four-month supply in a jar.