Formula · 8.1

Brand · 8.8

NOW Foods · cholecalciferol (D3) · US

NOW Foods Vitamin D-3 5000 IU

NOW Foods Vitamin D-3 5000 IU
8.1

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Effect and evidence1.0Effect supported by studies
  • Absorbed dose vs reference intake1.0vitamin d: the serving is 1.3× the upper level (100 mcg)
  • Completeness for the purpose0.6For “vitamin D deficiency” — 56 %; without magnesium, the cofactor of D activation; without K2 for long high doses; could be added without conflict: magnesium, vitamin k2; a broad formula across 3 purposes
  • Safety and purity0.8Vitamin d: the serving is above the upper level — only on medical advice
  • adults
  • pregnancyask a doctor
  • childrenage-based dose, with a doctor
  • without testscheck the level first
  • halal / kosherconfirm the gelatin source
Free from:
  • artificial sweeteners · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “acesulfame potassium, aspartame, sucralose” group — a calorie-free sweetener, usually paired with sucralose or aspartame for taste. Permitted, a preference question.
  • colorants E102/E120/E150 · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “caramel colour, carmine, tartrazine” group — a brown colour from caramelised sugar: it tints syrups and coatings and does not affect the action.
  • carrageenan · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “carrageenan” group — a thickener from red seaweed. It is permitted but debated: in animal studies the degraded form irritated the gut, so people with inflammatory bowel disease are sometimes advised to avoid it. For food-grade carrageenan there is no such proof.
  • magnesium stearate · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “magnesium stearate” group — tablet-pressing lubricant; contains negligible magnesium, not counted as the element; in powders — a slip agent; does not clog pores
  • soy lecithin · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “soy lecithin” group — an emulsifier from soy: it binds fats with water and keeps a capsule from separating. With a soy allergy it is a reason to check the list.
  • titanium dioxide (E171) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “titanium dioxide (E171)” group — white coating pigment; banned as a food additive in the EU since 2022, permitted in Russia and the US
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
What for: Before conception and in the first weeks you need folate (400 mcg), iodine and vitamin D; iron — when ferritin is low; choline and omega-3 — for the baby brain. A complex without folate and iodine does not do the job; agree the doses with your doctor.
When:
  • morning
  • with food
in the morning with a meal that contains fat
When to expect an effect: 25(OH)D rises over 6–8 weeks
What is normal: usually no reactions

Ingredients — 3 components · 1 works

What works: 1 of 3 ingredients: vitamin d. Before conception and in the first weeks you need folate (400 mcg), iodine and vitamin D; iron — when ferritin is low; choline and omega-3 — for the baby brain. A complex without folate and iodine does not do the job; agree the doses with your doctor.

Strengths: effect and evidence, absorbed dose vs reference intake

What lowers the score: completeness for the purpose: for “vitamin d deficiency” — 56 %; safety and purity: vitamin d: the serving is above the upper level — only on medical advice

Questions: no debatable ingredients in the formula

  • Supplement Facts label wording · the heading of the label’s facts table — the per-serving numbers follow
  • Serving Size 1 Softgel label wording · serving size: how many tablets or capsules count as one serving; all numbers below are per serving
  • Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol from lanolin) 125 mcg (5,000 IU works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: D3 (cholecalciferol)
  • Other Ingredients: organic extra virgin olive oil base: coating, fillers · a nourishing emollient oil; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • softgel capsule (bovine gelatin base: coating, fillers · capsule shell of animal gelatin (usually bovine or fish) — not for vegetarians; for halal/kosher the source must be confirmed with the maker
  • glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • water base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell

NOW Foods Vitamin D-3 5000 IU is vitamin d as D3 (cholecalciferol): 125 mcg per serving of 1 softgel. That is 833 % of the adult daily intake, above the upper safe level for supplements (100 mcg) — such a dose is taken only on medical advice or split. The form absorbs well and usually does not loosen stools. The formula has 3 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is coating and fillers. Before conception and in the first weeks you need folate (400 mcg), iodine and vitamin D; iron — when ferritin is low; choline and omega-3 — for the baby brain. A complex without folate and iodine does not do the job; agree the doses with your doctor. By the list, no artificial sweeteners, colorants E102/E120/E150, carrageenan, magnesium stearate, soy lecithin, titanium dioxide (E171), gelatin in the coating. Suitable for: adults. pregnancy, children, without tests, halal / kosher — ask a doctor. hypercalcemia, sarcoidosis, vegetarians — not without a doctor. Use: in the morning with a meal that contains fat. When to expect an effect: 25(OH)D rises over 6–8 weeks. Label score — 8.1 out of 10 (for “vitamin d deficiency” — 56 %; without magnesium, the cofactor of d activation; without k2 for long high doses; could be added without conflict: magnesium, vitamin k2; a broad formula across 3 purposes; vitamin d: the serving is above the upper level — only on medical advice). The 125 mcg dose is above the EFSA adult upper level (100 mcg/day): the maker suggests taking it every 2 days or as directed by a physician. A restatement of the label and norms, not an assessment.

Who it does not suit

  • hypercalcemia, sarcoidosisonly with a doctor
  • vegetariansgelatin capsule

When to stop: nausea, thirst, frequent urination — signs of excess; doses above 4,000 IU long-term — only by blood test

Per the maker's leaflet: The 125 mcg dose is above the EFSA adult upper level (100 mcg/day): the maker suggests taking it every 2 days or as directed by a physician. A restatement of the label and norms, not an assessment.

Is this supplement right for you?

The score describes the product, not you: whether you need this magnesium, iron or vitamin D is decided by your blood tests. Tell us about yourself, upload your CBC and blood chemistry, answer a few questions — we will go through every ingredient by its chemistry and biology and say whether the product suits you and at what dose.

Supplement matchDecode my tests