NOW® Vitamin D3 softgels provide this key vitamin in a highly absorbable liquid softgel form.

Vitamin D is typically obtained from the diet or produced by the skin through ultraviolet sunlight exposure. However, it is not abundant in food.

As more people avoid sun exposure, supplementation with vitamin D becomes increasingly necessary to ensure thy body receives an adequate supply.

Vitamin D is fundamentally different from most vitamins. In fact, it is a steroid hormone produced from cholesterol when the skin is exposed to sunlight. For this reason, vitamin D is often called the “Sun Vitamin.”

However, sun exposure rarely provides the required amount of vitamin D, making dietary intake or supplementation necessary.

Vitamin D is fat-soluble, meaning it dissolves in fats and oils and can be stored in the body for long periods.

There are several types of vitamin D, but the two most important forms are D-3 (Cholecalciferol), found in some animal-based foods such as fatty fish and egg yolks; and D-2 (Ergocalciferol), found in plant-based foods like mushrooms and yeasts. Of the two, D-3 is the most active and effective in raising blood vitamin D levels.

Cholecalciferol is converted by sunlight from Pro-vitamin D-3 (7-dehydrocholesterol) found in human skin. Both D-2 and D-3 are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to 25-hydroxycalciferol and subsequently to the biologically active form, 1,25-dihydroxycalciferol (Calcitriol), which acts as a hormone regulating calcium absorption in the small intestine and calcium levels in bone and kidney tissues.

Vitamin D is credited with structuring and maintaining bone tissue and balancing calcium and phosphorus levels in the body (homeostasis). Additionally, studies indicate this vitamin’s involvement in other vital processes such as cell reproduction, hormone secretion, and immune system function.

Ingredients
Other Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil, soft gelatin capsule [bovine gelatin (BSE-free), glycerin, water], and safflower oil.

Composition
Per 1 capsule:

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) (from lanolin) – 250 mcg (10,000 IU) (2500% NRV)

Directions for Use
Take 1 capsule every 3 days with a meal containing fat.

Warnings
For adults only. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Consult a physician if pregnant, nursing, taking medications (especially topical psoriasis treatments or thiazide diuretics), or if you have a medical condition (especially hypercalcemia, kidney disease, or hyperparathyroidism). Keep out of reach of children.