Vitamin D3 liquid

Liquid Vitamin D3, explained in detail

Liquid Vitamin D3 from EssentialSeries is a liquid food supplement containing vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).

Who says taking vitamins has to be complicated? Take 1 drop of our product directly to get 25 mcg of vitamin D3, equivalent to 1000 IU. An easy way to add this vitamin to your routine.

Liquid Vitamin D3 is suitable for vegetarian diets.

Why take Liquid Vitamin D3?

Although the body produces vitamin D3 through exposure to sunlight, it is an essential nutrient that must also come from the diet.

Here's why: the latitude at which Europeans live, combined with long winters and too little sun exposure, means the amount of vitamin D our bodies produce is clearly insufficient. Dietary sources are limited too, unless you eat plenty of oily fish and fortified foods.

 Vitamin D contributes to:

•  Normal muscle function.
•  Normal immune system function.
•  The normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus.
•  The maintenance of normal blood calcium levels.
•  The maintenance of normal bones.
•  The maintenance of normal teeth.

Why buy Liquid Vitamin D3 from HSN?

Because you might prefer another way to take your vitamins... Tablets and capsules aren't for everyone, and you might find them hard to swallow comfortably.

Its drop format and dosing cap let you take it directly, with no preparation needed. Use the dispenser to take the recommended dose and follow the directions on the label.

Vitamin D3 without any odd extras

Vitamin D comes in 2 forms: D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol).

Although both forms are useful, research such as Tripkovic et al. (2012) suggests that, at the same dose, vitamin D3 may be more effective than vitamin D2 at improving vitamin D status in the body.

Our product contains:

•  Cholecalciferol (vitamin D).
•  Antioxidants (rich in vitamin E).
•  Safflower oil.

And that's it! Why? Because why add more when you've got everything you need?

Why do we use safflower oil?

Safflower oil is the best choice for developing a liquid vitamin D3 product.

Other options include:

•  Water, but the vitamin breaks down when stored in it for days.
•  Alcohol, but we're against using alcohol-based formulas for this purpose. It's not our way of doing things.
•  Other oils, such as olive oil, but they go rancid quickly, making the product taste bad before long and potentially even harmful to health.

Safflower oil is ideal: it's tasteless, keeps at room temperature without oxidising and doesn't solidify, even in winter.

How do I work out the dose?

You might be wondering how the dose is measured.

Every 1 microgram of vitamin D (D2 or D3) equals 40 International Units, the measure used internationally to report amounts of vitamin D.

So:

Each drop provides 25 mcg = 1000 International Units of vitamin D3.

What can I take Liquid Vitamin D3 with?

You can add it to your routine alongside other vitamins, taking each product according to its directions for use:

•  Vitamin K2.
•  B-50 Complex.

And if you're looking for vitamin D products with a higher concentration, you can choose:

•  Vitamin D3 2000 IU.
•  Vitamin D3 4000 IU.
•  Vitamin D3 5000 IU.
•  Vitamin D3 50000 IU.

Frequently asked questions about Liquid Vitamin D3

Can I mix it with water, juice or food?

We recommend taking the product directly. From a formulation point of view, there's nothing to prevent you from adding it to water, juice or food. However, that doesn't mean it will dissolve or form an even mixture.

It's oil-based, and oil doesn't dissolve in water. So, if you add it to a water-based drink, the oil may separate and appear as visible drops or a layer on the surface. How it spreads through food will depend on the food's composition and texture.

That's why we recommend taking it directly using the dosing cap, following the directions on the label.

Will shaking a drink dissolve the product?

No. Shaking may temporarily disperse the oil into smaller drops, but dispersing isn't the same as dissolving. If you leave the drink to stand, the oil may come back together and separate from the water. So shaking won't turn this oil-based formula into an even water-based solution, and we still recommend taking it directly.

Why does it contain oil if I just want vitamin D3?

Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it dissolves in fat. Safflower oil acts as a carrier in the formula, allowing a small amount of vitamin D3 to be provided in a liquid format that's easy to dose.

The 25 mcg per drop refers to the vitamin D3, not the total weight of the drop, which also contains the oil base and the other ingredients in the formula.

Does 1 drop of any vitamin D3 product provide the same amount?

No. The amount of vitamin D3 per drop depends on the concentration of each product and its dispensing system. In this formula, 1 drop provides 25 mcg, equivalent to 1000 IU.

What should I check if I already take a multivitamin or another supplement containing vitamin D?

Check whether those products contain vitamin D and how much they provide in the dose you take. Both vitamin D2 and D3 count towards your total vitamin D intake, even if they appear under different names on the labels.

To compare amounts, remember that 1 mcg of vitamin D equals 40 IU. Check the combined amount before adding another vitamin D supplement, and follow the directions for use of each product.

Why is it suitable for vegetarians but not vegans?

The difference is where the vitamin D3 comes from: it's derived from lanolin obtained from sheep's wool. So, although the product has a vegetable oil base, the formula isn't vegan. If you follow a vegan diet, choose a vitamin D3 product specifically labelled as suitable for vegans, such as one derived from lichen.

References on vitamin D

•  Wacker, M., & Holick, M. F. (2013). Sunlight and Vitamin D: a global perspective for health. Dermato-Endocrinology, 5(1), 51–108.
•  Mendes, M. M., Hart, K. H., Botelho, P. B., & Lanham-New, S. A. (2018). Vitamin D status in the tropics: is sunlight exposure the main determinant? Nutrition Bulletin, 43(4), 428–434.
•  de Haan, K., Groeneveld, J. B. J., de Geus, H. R. H., Egal, M., & Struijs, A. (2014). Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for infection, sepsis and mortality in the critically ill: systematic review and meta-analysis. Critical Care, 18(1), 660.
•  Dawson-Hughes, B., Harris, S. S., Lichtenstein, A. H., Dolnikowski, G., Palermo, N. J., & Rasmussen, H. (2015). Dietary fat increases vitamin D3 absorption. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 115(2), 225–230.
•  Holick, M. F. (2007). Medical progress: vitamin D deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266–281.

¹ The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 20 μg of vitamin D from all sources. Applies only to men and women aged 60 years or over.