While regular exercise and eating a healthy balanced diet are essential for maintaining your overall health, there’s one vitamin that (despite eating healthily) you simply have to supplement in autumn and winter: vitamin D.
Due to shorter days and lack of sun exposure, experts say we can all benefit from taking vitamin D in the colder, darker months. Dr Sam Oliver, an expert in sport and exercise science at Bangor University, says that “from October through to March due to insufficient sunlight, a low-dose daily oral vitamin D3 supplement might be needed to maintain vitamin D sufficiency”.
The sunshine vitamin, so-called because we get most of our daily recommended allowance from the sun’s rays, is essential for maintaining musculoskeletal health by supporting our bones, teeth and muscles. Research has also linked it to boosting the immune system, and Dr Oliver and his colleagues made another significant discovery last year.
“More recently, a greater understanding of vitamin D’s role within the immune system means that maintaining vitamin D sufficiency may also be important to prevent and cope with respiratory infections,” he explains. “For example, our recent research indicates winter vitamin D supplementation reduces the duration and severity of the common cold.”
How we tested
When it comes to vitamin D, we know it’s good for us and how it can help to support good health. However, there are a lot of options to choose from when you’re trying to select the right supplement for you and your family. We turned to experts to help demystify the process and tested each of the best options for ourselves too.
We tried a range of supplements with several methods of consumption, noting how easy they were to take, and considering a number of different strengths. It is possible to take too much vitamin D, which can have adverse effects, so do speak with your healthcare provider to find out which dose is right for you before beginning any new supplement protocol.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Emily Goddard has reviewed a wide range of products for IndyBest since 2021, from probiotics to alcohol-free spirits and self-help books. She has particular expertise in the wellness space, always consulting experts for her tried and tested reviews. Everything in Emily’s final supplements round-up has been taken as brands intended to assess their benefits, how well they worked and, ultimately, whether they’re worth buying.
The best vitamin D supplements for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Nutrition Geeks vitamin D3 1,000IU: £6.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Myvitamins vitamin D3 softgels, 1,000IU: £2.99, Myprotein.com
- Best for vegans – Nature’s Own vegan D3 2,500IU: £10, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for children – Boots vitamin D, 30 gummies: £5.10, Boots.com
