Vitamin D3 Mini Gels | 5000 IU | 100 Softgels | Vitacost

Vitacost Vitamin D3 5000 IU comes as 100 easy-to-swallow mini softgels, supporting bone health and normal immune system function. The small softgel size is the standout angle of this formula, making the daily dose manageable for anyone who struggles with large pills. It is typically chosen by people who spend most of the day indoors, or who live far from regions with abundant sun exposure, and who want a steady daily intake of vitamin D3.

What is Vitamin D3?

Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is a fat-soluble vitamin and the same form the human skin produces on exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. Very few foods contain meaningful amounts of vitamin D, mainly oily fish and egg yolk, which is why a supplemental source is a common choice. Once inside the body, vitamin D3 passes through two activation steps, first in the liver and then in the kidney.

Benefits of Vitamin D3

• Bone health: Vitamin D3 contributes to the maintenance of normal bones by creating the conditions for proper mineral deposition.
• Calcium absorption: Vitamin D3 raises the efficiency of intestinal calcium absorption, its best-documented function.
• Phosphorus balance: It participates in maintaining normal blood phosphorus levels alongside calcium.
• Immune support: Adequate vitamin D3 status is linked to the normal function of immune cells.
• Muscle function: Vitamin D3 contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function.
• Dental health: It plays a part in maintaining normal teeth through its role in calcium metabolism.
• Cell division: Vitamin D3 is involved in the normal process of cell division.

How It Works Inside the Body

After absorption, vitamin D3 is converted to 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the liver and then to the active form calcitriol in the kidney. Calcitriol binds the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a nuclear receptor found in intestinal, bone and immune cells. That binding drives production of calcium-transport proteins in the intestinal lining, which is the mechanism by which vitamin D3 increases the proportion of dietary calcium actually absorbed.

What Sets This Formula Apart

The Vitacost formula uses a mini softgel, a dosage form that carries vitamin D3 inside a lipid medium because it is fat-soluble rather than water-soluble. That medium matches how vitamin D3 is absorbed, travelling with dietary fat through the lymphatic route, while the small softgel size solves the swallowing difficulty that comes with large tablets. At 5000 IU per softgel, there is no need to repeat the dose during the day.

Who Is This Product For?

• People who spend daylight hours in offices or indoor settings.
• Anyone who finds large tablets difficult to swallow and wants a small softgel.
• Those whose diet is low in oily fish and egg yolk.
• Anyone wanting a single fixed daily dose of vitamin D3.
• Older adults, whose skin synthesises vitamin D less efficiently.

How to Use

Adults 18 years and over take one softgel daily, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. Taking vitamin D3 with a meal containing fat raises absorption because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, and keeping to the same time each day is preferable.

Product Details

• Form: Mini softgel
• Strength: 5000 IU vitamin D3 per softgel
• Count: 100 softgels
• Brand: Vitacost, United States

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between vitamin D3 and vitamin D2?

Vitamin D3 is cholecalciferol, sourced from animal origin or lanolin, and is the same form the skin makes under sunlight. Vitamin D2 is ergocalciferol and comes from fungal sources, and studies indicate D3 is more efficient at raising blood vitamin D levels and holding them longer.

Why is vitamin D3 better taken with food?

Vitamin D3 is fat-soluble and is absorbed from the intestine within lipid micelles formed with the help of bile acids. Having fat in the meal stimulates bile release and therefore raises the proportion of the vitamin that is absorbed.

Does the small softgel size mean a lower dose?

Softgel size and dose strength are unrelated in the Vitacost formula, where the mini softgel carries the full 5000 IU of vitamin D3. The compact size comes from the density of the oil base and the low amount of bulking material compared with compressed tablets.

Cautions

• Not intended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.
• Consult a doctor when taking medication for a chronic condition, heart medication or diuretics.
• Do not exceed the stated dose, and periodic blood testing of vitamin D status is advisable during long-term use.
• Not to be used as a substitute for a balanced diet.