Vegetarian & Vegan Vitamin D

Look at the label first - you want to get a product that is 100% free from any animal product or animal-derived ingredients.

Most vitamins will boldly state whether they’re suitable for vegetarians or vegans, or have the official green logo on the container to provide clarity to shoppers.

Certain supplements, like omega 3, are harder to find in a vegan alternative.

Whilst we’re all at risk of having low vitamin D levels during the darker months in the UK, some people can be at risk all year round.

You should take a 10 microgram vitamin D supplement all year round if you spend a lot of time indoors (for example, if you’re frail or housebound), if you’re in an institution like a care home, or if you usually wear clothes that cover up most of your skin when you’re outdoors.

This also applies if you have dark skin - for example if you have an African, African-Caribbean or South Asian background - as your skin might not make enough vitamin D from sunlight alone.

The NHS recommends that everyone over the age of 4 should take 10 microgram vitamin D supplements during autumn and winter.

This is because we usually get vitamin D from sunlight hitting our skin and when the lovely British weather kicks in in the colder months it can be harder for us to catch those rays.

Although you can get vitamin D from your diet, it’s not the easiest vitamin to get enough of, which is why daily supplements step in to help.

If you’re someone who isn’t exposed to a lot of sunlight in general, you can take a vitamin D supplement all year round to help keep your levels up.

There are lots of food that can provide you with vitamin D, including fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and mackerel; dairy products, soy milk, orange juice, and cereals.

However, it is very difficult to get the recommended daily amount of vitamin D through your diet alone.

The NHS recommends people in the UK should take a 10 microgram supplement per day, but don’t exceed 100 micrograms (4,000 IU).