Vitamin D Supplements UK: How Much to Take This Autumn and Which Strength to Choose
Between October and early March the sun in the UK isn't strong enough for our skin to make enough vitamin D, which is why government advice is that everyone should consider a daily vitamin D supplement during autumn and winter. This guide explains what the NHS recommends, what the numbers on the label mean, and how the vitamin D supplements from Healthspan, a UK supplements company selling direct since 1996, compare.
This guide isn't medical advice. If you're pregnant, take other medicines or have a medical condition, check with your GP or pharmacist first.
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How much vitamin D do you need?
According to the NHS:
- Children from 1 year old and adults need 10 micrograms (10µg) of vitamin D a day. This includes pregnant and breastfeeding women and people at risk of deficiency.
- Between October and early March we don't make enough vitamin D from sunlight. From about late March or early April to the end of September, most people can make all they need from sunlight on their skin.
- People at high risk of not getting enough, all children aged 1 to 4, and babies (unless they have more than 500ml of infant formula a day) should take a supplement all year.
- Don't take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) a day, as it could be harmful. Taking too much over a long time can cause calcium to build up in the body. If your doctor has advised a different amount, follow their advice.
µg and IU: 1 microgram equals 40 IU, so 10µg is 400 IU, 50µg is 2,000 IU and 100µg is 4,000 IU.
Healthspan's vitamin D range compared
| Product | Vitamin D per tablet or capsule | Pack | Who Healthspan makes it for | Price today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D3 10µg | 10µg (400 IU) | 240 tablets | Every adult: the NHS daily amount | £11.99 |
| Vitamin D3 50 Plus | 50µg (2,000 IU) | 180 capsules | Anyone over 50 | £18.99 |
| Vitamin D3 & K2 | 100µg (4,000 IU) D3 + 100µg K2 (MK-7) | 60 tablets | Adults; Healthspan's highest strength | £6.99 |
| Calcium & Vitamin D | With 400mg calcium per chewable tablet (chew three a day) | Vanilla chewable tablets | Anyone, especially women over 50 | £15.99 |
| MultiVitality 70 Plus | Vitamin D3 within a multivitamin | One tablet a day | People over 70 | £20.99 |
Pack sizes and amounts are from Healthspan's product pages; prices are checked every night.
For most adults: Vitamin D3 10µg
Each tablet contains 10µg (400 IU) of vitamin D3, which is exactly the daily amount the NHS recommends for adults, and the pack has 240 tablets. Healthspan uses vitamin D3, which it says is the form the body is best able to process.
Over 50s: Vitamin D3 50 Plus
Healthspan made these small capsules for people over 50, because it says our ability to make vitamin D falls with age. Each capsule contains 50µg (2,000 IU), five times the NHS daily amount but half the NHS upper limit of 100µg. There are 180 capsules, with a drop of sunflower oil that Healthspan says helps absorption.
Highest strength: Vitamin D3 & K2
Each tablet has 100µg (4,000 IU) of vitamin D3 and 100µg of vitamin K2 (MK-7). Healthspan says vitamin K2 helps direct absorbed calcium to the right places. Note that 100µg is the most the NHS says adults should take in a day, so it's not one to combine with other vitamin D. Healthspan's directions are one tablet a day for adults, reviewed after 16 weeks. If you're unsure whether you need this much, ask your GP or pharmacist, or check your level with a test first (below).
With calcium, or in a multivitamin
Calcium & Vitamin D is a vanilla chewable tablet with 400mg of calcium per tablet; Healthspan's directions are to chew three a day. Healthspan says it's especially suited to women over 50.
MultiVitality 70 Plus is a once-a-day multivitamin for people over 70 that includes vitamin D3, vitamin K, magnesium and calcium alongside B vitamins, zinc and coenzyme Q10.
Not sure of your level? A home vitamin D test
Randox Health's home vitamin D test checks whether your level is sufficient. Its Quickdraw kit collects a blood sample from your upper arm with a device rather than a finger prick, and a finger-prick version is also available (from £36). Results come 2 to 3 working days after the lab receives your sample. Randox also runs health checks in clinics across the UK and Ireland.
Ways to save
- Healthspan gives new customers 15% off a first order when they sign up to its emails, a 20% student discount through Student Beans, and free UK delivery over £30. Subscribe & Save takes money off repeat orders.
- Randox Health runs a refer-a-friend scheme: friends get 10% off an eligible health check.
Today's live codes are in the box at the top of this guide, and on our Healthspan and Randox Health pages.
FAQs
How much vitamin D should I take a day in the UK?
The NHS says children from 1 year and adults need 10 micrograms (400 IU) a day, and that everyone should consider a daily supplement during autumn and winter.
How much vitamin D is too much?
The NHS says not to take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) a day, as it could be harmful. Some medical conditions mean you can't safely take as much, so check with your doctor if in doubt.
What's the difference between 1000 IU and 4000 IU?
1 microgram is 40 IU, so 1,000 IU is 25µg and 4,000 IU is 100µg. The NHS daily amount is 10µg (400 IU) and its upper limit is 100µg (4,000 IU).
When should I take vitamin D in the UK?
The NHS says between October and early March we don't make enough vitamin D from sunlight, so that's when everyone should consider a supplement. Some people should take it all year.
Does Healthspan have a discount code?
Healthspan gives 15% off a first order for email sign-ups, a 20% student discount and free UK delivery over £30. Live codes are in the box at the top of this guide.
How we checked this guide
Every product fact in this guide comes from the brand's own product description, checked on 13 October 2026, and the NHS guidance on vitamin D on nhs.uk. Prices are read on each store's own product page every night; the store's checkout shows the final price. We haven't tested these products ourselves, so we don't rate them: we compare what each brand says it does.
Links to stores in this guide are affiliate links: we may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
Sources: nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d · healthspan.co.uk/vitamin-d3-10mcg · healthspan.co.uk/vitamin-d3-50-plus · healthspan.co.uk/vitamin-d3-and-k2 · healthspan.co.uk/calcium-and-vitamin-d-vanilla · healthspan.co.uk/multivitality-70-plus · randoxhealth.com/en-GB/product/home/vitamin-d-test
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