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You should confirm the suitability of unlicensed calcium and vitamin D preparations for vegetarians or vegans with the manufacturer. Licensed Calcium and Ergocalciferol Preparations Certain excipients (such as gelatin) make a preparation unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans. See our other work on excipients and vegan patients: Excipients: What are the general considerations for vegan patients? A vegan friendly form of colecalciferol, which is derived from lichen, is available in unlicensed products.
Long-term vitamin D deficiency can cause bone loss, muscle weakness, falls and fractures in older people. High calcium level—increased thirst or amount of urine, nausea, vomiting, confusion, unusual weakness or fatigue, bone pain We recognise that different people have different needs. We make clear if a vitamin D supplement is suitable for a particular diet (such as vegan or gluten-free). We also note if it is GMO-friendly or suitable for people with particular allergies. For many people, chewable multivitamins are a great way to get the benefits and nutrients from vitamins without the discomfort of swallowing pills. Before selecting a particular brand of vitamins, there are a few key features to consider. Formula
Pharmacy product
Zadka K, et al. (2018). The state of knowledge about nutrition sources of vitamin D, its role in the human body, and necessity of supplementation among parents in central Poland.
Drop 1 tablet into a glass of water and as soon as it dissolves drink straight away. Do not chew or swallow the tablets whole. How long to take it forChew well before swallowing. Some brands may be swallowed whole or dissolved in your mouth. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions.
Women and children who qualify for the Healthy Start scheme can get free supplements containing vitamin D. Eat well, live better, stay healthy: sign up to our free monthly Food & Health newsletter for the latest insights delivered straight to your inbox Each NOW Foods chewable contains 1,000 IU of vitamin D3, which comes down to 125% of your daily value. For those who need a higher dosage, the brand offers this product in 5,000 IU potency. NOW Foods Chewable Vitamin D is free from wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients, making it a great choice for people with allergies. However, as its vitamin D is sourced from lanolin (sheep’s wool), it is not suitable for vegans.If you have severe vitamin D deficiency, your doctor may prescribe a loading dose of up to 300,000IU. This can be taken as:
Colecalciferol is synthetically produced using 7-dehydrocholesterol derived from lanolin (wool fat). Products originating from wool fat are unacceptable to vegans. If the lanolin has been sourced from the wool of live sheep, not bred for slaughter for the meat industry, it is considered suitable for vegetarians. However, if sourced from the wool of sheep that have been slaughtered, or are about to be sent to slaughter, the colecalciferol is unsuitable for vegetarians. Suitable for vegetarians (not vegans) People with dark skin – melanin reduces the skin's ability to make vitamin D and people with dark skin have more melanin. Colecalciferol doses are measured in international units (IU). 1 microgram of vitamin D is the same as 40IU. Adult loading doses When choosing a preparation that is suitable for a vegetarian or vegan it is necessary to consider the appropriateness of both the active and inactive ingredients. Excipients (Inactive ingredients)
More about calcium / vitamin d
Colecalciferol is a form of vitamin D. It helps your body to take in more calcium and phosphorous from the food you eat, and helps your kidneys to keep more calcium instead of peeing it out. If you or your child's vitamin D levels are OK, your doctor may recommend safely increasing your exposure to sunlight and adding more foods that are high in vitamin D to your diet. There are certain population groups that could benefit from stronger vitamin D supplements. These include older adults and individuals with darker skin tones, as mentioned in The Journal of Nutrition. Those who are overweight and obese also tend to be more deficient in this nutrient, as described in the European Journal of Nutrition. Researchers from the PLoS One propose that vitamin D supplementation should be two to three times higher for obese individuals and 1.5 times higher for those considered overweight. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that adults and children over 4 take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year if they:
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