This is why the NHS advises most of us to take a 10ug vitamin D supplement during the colder months, as it can be quite difficult to get vitamin D from food. Calcium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. They are also great for taking to work, holiday or camping for the same reason. Which form of vitamin D is best absorbed? Gelatin: Gelatin is a common ingredient in gummies to create the desired texture. It is made from animal bones and tissues and thus is not a vegan ingredient. Depending on the source and processing, it may not be considered Kosher either.If you are searching for a gelatin-free option, look for gummy vitamins that use pectin instead. Chen Y, Strasser S, Cao Y, Wang KS, Zheng S. Calcium intake and hypertension among obese adults in United States: associations and implications explored. J Hum Hypertens. 2015;29(9):541-547. doi:10.1038/jhh.2014.126

Nature Made uses glucose syrup, sugar, and natural flavors for taste, keeping the sugar content to 4 grams per serving. In addition to vitamins A, Bs, C, D, and E, it also contains a small amount of omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. Focus on preventing calcium loss. As important as it is to make sure you’re getting enough calcium, it’s also important to avoid calcium loss. Doing that may keep you from needing a supplement at all! To keep your calcium levels where they belong, you need to: Thorne also keeps its supplements free of common allergens, including gluten, soy, dairy, yeast, and shellfish. Vegans should steer clear, though, because the vitamin D comes from lanolin sourced from sheep’s wool. Our dietitians put together this list of best gummy vitamins by considering a variety of products with different ingredients that would fit various preferences and needs. In refining the list, we considered these qualities. Vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients for our overall health. It’s essential for many bodily functions, including:

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Lappe J, Watson P, Travers-Gustafson D, et al. Effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on cancer incidence in older women: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2017;317(12):1234-1243. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.2115 Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, and many people in the US don't consume enough of it. Calcium is "most known for its role in bone health, but it's also essential for blood clotting and the proper functioning of the muscles, heart and nerves,” says Anya Rosen, a registered dietitian and virtual functional medicine practitioner. Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. The research on calcium supplements and weight loss is also mixed. So we turn to the highest quality research to draw conclusions from, a research analysis, which looks at the results of many studies. In a research analysis that looked at 41 studies, no association was found between increased dairy food intake or supplemental calcium intake on weight loss. What to Look for in a Calcium Supplement Third-Party Testing Myung SK, Kim HB, Lee YJ, Choi YJ, Oh SW. Calcium supplements and risk of cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis of clinical trials. Nutrients. 2021;13(2):368. Published 2021 Jan 26. doi:10.3390/nu13020368

Magnesium plays an important role in the absorption and metabolism of both vitamin D and calcium. Specifically, magnesium is required to convert vitamin D into its active form, which is essential for optimizing absorption and utilization of calcium. Additionally, magnesium helps to maintain calcium homeostasis in the body by stimulating a hormone called calcitonin, which draws calcium out of the blood and soft tissue and into the bones. Best for those who want a third-party tested product that is free of the top-9 allergens, but also comes in different flavors to keep things tasty and versatile for kids. If you can, try to meet your calcium needs through food rather than a supplement. The food group containing the most calcium is dairy, which includes yogurt, cheese, and milk. Other top food sources of calcium are canned sardines and salmon with bones, soy milk and tofu, chia seeds, and green vegetables.Reduce your intake of caffeine and other stimulant beverages. After two small (5-ounce) servings daily, calcium can be lost in your urine. If you’re not sensitive to dairy, a good source of dietary calcium is grass-fed, organic Greek yogurt. It gives you 450 mg of calcium per serving, plus vitamin D and protein. Coletta JM, Bell SJ, Roman AS. Omega-3 fatty acids and pregnancy. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2010;3(4):163-171. Vitamin K is the key nutrient that helps bind calcium and create a mature bone cell. It also plays an important role in preventing calcium deposits in blood vessels. In postmenopausal women, low magnesium intake has been correlated with rapid bone loss and weaker bones, and some trials have shown benefits from supplementation. This supplement is then the trifecta, including not only vitamin D but also vitamin K and magnesium.

Sometimes products tested by these three companies are more expensive to try to offset the cost they pay for certification.

Keep in mind that this form of calcium may not be ideal for certain populations and may cause side effects in some, including constipation. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have kidney disease, you should speak to a healthcare professional before taking this form of calcium supplement. When choosing a supplement, it’s important to obtain it from a trusted source that upholds standards of efficacy and purity, and calcium is no exception. One of the biggest concerns with calcium supplements is related to the quantity of the mineral actually contained in the pill or powder. A product label may say it contains a certain amount of calcium, but in fact it falls short. Another concern is that many sources of calcium also contain heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Choosing your supplement from a trusted source is imperative, especially for women who are pregnant. Form Sweeteners: All gummy vitamins use some kind of sugar or alternative sweetener. People with certain health conditions like diabetes may want to pay closer attention to added sugar amounts and choose options that are lower in sugar. Additionally, some sweeteners, like sugar alcohols, may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, so take note of these ingredients if you are sensitive. Hypertension in pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology: November 2013 - Volume 122 - Issue 5 - p 1122-1131 doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000437382.03963.88 Past those birthdays, you should aim for 1,200 mg per day. (For context, a cup of milk or a serving of yogurt each has about 300 mg of calcium.)

Vitamin E: Vitamin E toxicity appears to be less likely though still possible, especially from long-term excessive intake. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is set at 1000mg for adults. Risks include hemorrhage and stroke.Who wouldn’t want to take their supplements when they are chewable and taste great? Costco’s Signature brand, Kirkland, has delivered a product that is easy to consume, comes in two tasty flavors (orange and cherry). It is also USP Verified, so you can trust it contains what is listed on the label. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin A: Fact sheet for health professionals. Kamath A, Pemminati S. Methylcobalamin in Vitamin B12 Deficiency: To Give or Not to Give?. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2017;8(1):33-34. doi:10.4103/jpp.JPP_173_16