- *MSRP:
$8.99- Our Price:
- $5.40
- Buy: at $5.40
- UPC: 733739003652
- # N0365
NOW Foods Vitamin D-3 1,000 IU (180 Softgels)
NOW Foods Vitamin D-3 delivers 1,000 IU (25 mcg) of pure cholecalciferol, the exact natural form of vitamin D your body produces when sunlight touches your skin. Suspended in healthy extra virgin olive oil and safflower oil, this daily formula is designed for smooth digestion and quick absorption. It provides essential daily support for strong teeth, durable bone density, healthy muscle function, and year-round immune defense [1].
Quick Specs Snapshot
- ✓ Active Form & Potency: 25 mcg (1,000 IU) of bioidentical Vitamin D-3 (as cholecalciferol from natural lanolin) per single softgel serving.
- ✓ Primary Cellular Target: Bone mineralization pathways, tooth enamel integrity, skeletal muscle fibers, and white blood cell defense signaling [2, 3].
- ✓ Supply & Value Math: 180 softgels provide a full 6-month daily supply (just pennies per day), packaged in a 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin bottle.
- ✓ Formulation Purity: Non-GMO, BSE-free bovine gelatin, and rigorously free from gluten, wheat, soy, corn, dairy, egg, fish, shellfish, and sesame.
Buyer's Guide & Vitamin D Form Comparison
Why the Form Matters: D-3 vs. D-2
Not all vitamin D supplements are created equal. Many bargain formulas use Vitamin D-2 (ergocalciferol), an inexpensive plant- or yeast-derived form that your body struggles to use efficiently. Clinical studies demonstrate that Vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol) raises and maintains active vitamin D levels in your bloodstream nearly twice as effectively as D-2 [1]. Because D-3 matches what your skin naturally makes, your liver processes it faster and keeps it in your system significantly longer. Furthermore, while cheap dry tablets can pass through your system unabsorbed, NOW dissolves their D-3 in extra virgin olive oil and safflower oil so your digestive tract can absorb it right away [5].
Is This Formula Right for You?
Ideal For Shoppers Who:
- ✓ Want a safe, moderate daily dose (1,000 IU) to maintain healthy year-round vitamin D levels without oversupplementing.
- ✓ Work indoors, live in northern states with limited winter sun, or wear sunscreen regularly when outside.
- ✓ Prefer an easy-to-swallow micro softgel suspended in healthy liquid oils instead of chalky pressed tablets.
Consider Another Option If:
- ✗ You have a doctor-diagnosed deficiency requiring high-dose clinical therapy (such as 5,000 IU or 10,000 IU per day).
- ✗ You adhere to a 100% strict vegan lifestyle (this product uses lanolin from sheep's wool and bovine gelatin; a lichen-based vegan D-3 would be preferred).
- ✗ You cannot swallow softgels and require liquid dropper drops for flexible drop-by-drop dosing.
Risk-Free Assurance: Every bottle is backed by VitaNet®, LLC's unconditional 100% money-back guarantee[cite: 1]. If you are not completely satisfied, we even cover the return shipping on opened bottles so you can shop with total confidence[cite: 1].
How Vitamin D-3 Works in Your Body
Think of Vitamin D-3 as a master key for your cells. Even though we call it a vitamin, it actually behaves like a vital signaling hormone once inside your body. Here is the step-by-step journey it takes after you swallow it:
1. Liver Conversion (Building Your Fuel Tank): Once absorbed in your intestine, the cholecalciferol travels through your portal vein to your liver. Your liver attaches a small chemical tag to turn it into calcidiol, known scientifically as 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D [1, 2]. This is the stable circulating form your doctor measures during a routine blood test.
2. Kidney Activation (Unlocking the Active Signal): When your tissues need active support, your kidneys and localized immune cells add another tag, transforming calcidiol into calcitriol, or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] [2]. This is the fully activated form ready to interact with your DNA.
3. Calcium Transport for Strong Bones & Teeth: Active calcitriol binds directly to Vitamin D Receptors (VDR) located in your intestines. This signals your gut cells to manufacture special transport proteins that pull calcium (Ca2+) and phosphorus from your food into your bloodstream [2]. Without enough Vitamin D-3, your body can only absorb about 10% to 15% of the calcium you eat, but with optimal D-3 levels, calcium absorption jumps to 30% to 40% [2]. That calcium is then delivered directly to reinforce your teeth and bone mineral matrix.
4. Muscle Contraction & Immune Defense: Your skeletal muscle fibers have their own Vitamin D Receptors. Vitamin D helps regulate the rapid movement of calcium inside muscle cells, which gives your muscles the strength and coordination they need to contract smoothly and resist fatigue [3]. At the exact same time, immune cells use activated vitamin D to synthesize protective defense peptides (like cathelicidin), strengthening your body's first line of immune defense [4].
Dosing, Timing & Daily Routine Protocol
Optimal Timing & Meal Pairing
Take 1 softgel daily. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, meaning it dissolves in oil rather than water. Although NOW already blends this D-3 with extra virgin olive oil and safflower oil, taking your softgel alongside a meal that contains healthy dietary fats (such as eggs, avocado, olive oil, nut butter, or whole-milk yogurt) triggers your gallbladder to release bile. Bile creates tiny microscopic bubbles called micelles that help carry the vitamin D across your intestinal wall into your bloodstream for maximum absorption [5].
Circadian Strategy
Because your body naturally synthesizes vitamin D when exposed to bright midday sunlight, your brain associates vitamin D activity with daytime hours. Taking your softgel in the morning with breakfast or at lunch works in natural harmony with your circadian rhythm, preventing potential interference with your body's evening melatonin production.
Smart Synergies & Spacing Rules
- ✓ Pairs Exceptionally Well With: Vitamin K-2 (MK-7) and Magnesium. While Vitamin D-3 increases calcium absorption into your blood, Vitamin K-2 activates osteocalcin to lock that calcium directly into your bones and teeth instead of soft tissues. Magnesium is the essential mineral cofactor your liver and kidneys require to convert raw D-3 into its active forms.
- ✗ Spacing Rules: If you take prescription fat-binders (such as orlistat/Alli), cholesterol-binding resins (such as cholestyramine), or high doses of bulk soluble fiber (such as psyllium husk), take them at least 2 hours before or after your Vitamin D-3 softgel to avoid trapping the vitamin before it can be absorbed.
Timeline of What to Expect
- ✓ Week 1: The softgel dissolves rapidly in the stomach; active cholecalciferol enters the bloodstream and begins building up your liver's circulating 25(OH)D reserves without any stomach irritation.
- ✓ Weeks 3–4: Cellular vitamin D levels rise steadily. Your intestines absorb dietary calcium more effectively, providing ongoing nutritional support for muscle contraction comfort and baseline immune signaling [2, 3].
- ✓ Months 2–3+: Circulating blood levels reach an optimal, steady state. Ongoing daily use provides consistent structural reinforcement for tooth enamel, long-term bone density preservation, and systemic cellular vitality [1, 2].
Physical, Sensory & Clean Ingredient Profile
Delivery Format & Swallowability
This formula is delivered in a miniature, oval softgel capsule. Because 1,000 IU of D-3 requires very little physical volume, the softgel is roughly the size of a small sweet pea. Its smooth gelatin coating glides down effortlessly with a single sip of water, making it an ideal choice for both teenagers and adults who dislike swallowing bulky vitamin tablets.
Natural Aroma, Taste & Color Notes
Because the active vitamin D is completely sealed inside a bovine gelatin shell with natural carrier oils, these softgels are completely tasteless and odorless. You will not experience any harsh herbal bitterness, medicinal aftertaste, or unpleasant burps. The softgels naturally display a translucent golden-amber color. Minor shade differences between bottles are completely normal and stem from natural crop harvests of pure extra virgin olive oil.
Other Ingredients Demystified
- ✓ Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Cold-pressed, unrefined heart-healthy plant oil that acts as the primary fat base to dissolve and protect fat-soluble vitamin D for quick intestinal uptake.
- ✓ Bovine Gelatin (BSE-free): Clean, purified protein derived from cattle (certified free from bovine spongiform encephalopathy) that forms the protective outer capsule wall.
- ✓ Glycerin: A safe, plant-sourced humectant that keeps the gelatin soft, flexible, and resistant to cracking during shipping and storage.
- ✓ Water: Purified water used during manufacturing to hydrate the gelatin shell until it seals and dries.
- ✓ Safflower Oil: A neutral, clean plant oil that works alongside the olive oil to ensure uniform nutrient distribution in every single softgel.
Storage & Bottle Stability
Store the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dry pantry or cabinet away from direct sunlight, stove heat, and bathroom steam (ideally between 60°F and 75°F). The amber bottle is crafted from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin, filtering out ambient light while keeping plastic waste out of our landfills.
Supplement Facts & NOW Brand Lab Testing Standards
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Softgel
Servings Per Container: 180
| Description | Amount per Serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
|
Vitamin D (as D3 Cholecalciferol) (from Lanolin) |
25 mcg (1,000 IU) | 125% |
Other Ingredients: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Softgel Capsule [bovine gelatin (BSE-free), glycerin, water] and Safflower Oil.
Allergen Statement: Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.