Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine abnormality that affects a woman’s hormones. The imbalance of hormones causes a long list of unfavorable symptoms that makes living with PCOS difficult. Weight gain, hair loss, mood swings, irregular menstrual cycles, fertility issues, fatigue, and more are all negative side effects that come with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Thankfully, there are many ways to naturally heal your PCOS. I was able to reverse my own PCOS by changing my diet, lifestyle, exercise-habits, and mindset. Now, my symptoms are well-managed and I can help other Cysters like you overcome their PCOS diagnosis!
Supplements are one of the best ways you can support your PCOS lifestyle changes to make a real impact on your health and wellbeing. Since vitamin D deficiency is common in Cysters like us, I suggest you get a blood test to see if supplementing your vitamin D intake is a good idea. Your doctor may recommend the amount that is suitable depending on your levels. There are multiple types of vitamin D, so I’m dedicating my post today to discussing the differences and sharing some of my top vitamin D supplement brands!
Best Form Of Vitamin D For PCOS
There are two forms of vitamin D. There is vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. (Vitamin D2 is commonly known just as “vitamin D”.) Vitamin D2 is cheaper to produce, so it’s more widely available. It comes from plant sources like wild mushrooms. Vitamin D3, on the other hand, is derived from animals. It comes from fish oil, liver, and eggs. You can also get vitamin D3 from the sun.
Both forms of vitamin D are great for the body. When consumed, vitamin D2 and D3 are converted to calciferol, which is where all the benefits of vitamin D come from. Though both produce calciferol, vitamin D3 creates almost double the calciferol that vitamin D2 does. That means more health benefits for your body.
So, what form of vitamin D is best? Vitamin D3 is more effective and therefore a better choice for a woman with PCOS who is likely experiencing low levels of vitamin D. Below, I have some great vitamin D3 supplements to choose from! They vary in concentration, so consult with your doctor on the amount of vitamin D that’s right for you before choosing a supplement.
By the way, the reason why you should consult your doctor and get lab work done to really understand how much vitamin D you need is because vitamin D is not a water soluble vitamin. This means that if you have too much, you won’t just pee it out like some other vitamins. Vitamin D stores in your body and you want to closely monitor your intake to make sure that you’re taking the right amount for your body.
Vitamin D3 Benefits For PCOS
- Strengthens your bones
- Boosts your immune system
- Improves brain function
- Boosts mood
- Aids in weight loss
- Help lower blood pressure
- Reduces inflammation
- Improves oral health
- Increases hair growth
- Lowers cholesterol levels
- Reduces insulin resistance
- Inhibits growth of cancer
- Improves fertility
- Lowers risk of type 2 diabetes
10 Best Vitamin D Supplements for PCOS
Pure Encapsulations: Vitamin D3
Pure Encapsulations is my go-to for all my vitamin needs. It fits inside your PCOS healing diet, since it’s gluten- and dairy-free. This supplement also has no artificial sweeteners, coatings, artificial colors, GMOs, or soy. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t. And, it’s vegetarian!
You can get Pure Encapsulations in a bottle of 60, 120, or 250 capsules. Since you only need to take one capsule a day, you can get enough capsules for over half a year with one purchase. Plus, these supplements are very reasonably priced.
HUM: Here Comes the Sun
HUM plays on the fact that vitamin D3 comes from the sun with its “Here Comes the Sun” supplement title. This is another quality supplement that’s free of gluten, GMOs, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, and artificial preservatives. It’s also vegan! HUM uses only the best clean ingredients that are triple-tested for purity and quality. However, these softgels do come at a premium price.
Care/Of: The Sunny D3
If you’re bad at keeping up with your vitamin routine, Care/Of is a great resource, because they ship your vitamins to you. They have a vegan and vegetarian vitamin D supplement that’s under $10 for a 30 day supply. It has no unnecessary fillers, it’s gluten-free and non-GMO. If you prefer a subscription model, Care/Of makes getting your vitamin D super easy.
NOW Vitamins D3
NOW produces affordable, clean vitamins of all types. If you need a supplement that’s hypoallergenic, NOW has even fewer allergens than some of the others previously listed. It’s free of corn, dairy, eggs, gluten, GMOs, and soy. It’s also GMP Quality Assured. (It is not vegan or vegetarian.) NOW has a variety of vitamin D3 supplements that vary in potency and type. You can find softgels and chewables!
Dr. Brighten: Vitamin D3/K2
Dr. Brighten has been on our show, Cyster and Her Mister, a few times and she’s a fantastic resource for fertility advice and premium supplements. She’s all about hormone balance for women, so you know her supplements will serve you well! This vitamin D3 supplement is in a liquid form you add to a beverage.
Her vitamin D3 supplement is non-GMO, GMP compliant, and gluten-free. It also includes vitamins K1 and K2, which is smart because vitamin D3 promotes the production of proteins that thrive on vitamin K. So, to avoid a vitamin K deficiency as you up your vitamin D3 game, consider a vitamin K/vitamin D3 combo like this. (Or, consider taking a separate vitamin K supplement.) Overall, this is a great high-quality supplement choice, though it comes at a pretty high price.
Designs for Health: Vitamin D Supreme
Designs for Health Vitamin D Supreme includes vitamin K1 and K2 as well. With a two-in-one formula, you’re bound to pay more, and Designs for Health is one of the priciest supplements on our list. However, it comes in a glass bottle and it has no gluten, dairy, soy, or GMOs. They’re manufactured in the United States at a GMP-registered facility, which is definitely a plus and makes the price well worth it.
Pure Encapsulations: Vitamin D3
This is another vitamin D3 supplement for Pure Encapsulations, but this one is a tasty liquid if taking pills is not your thing. Plus, it’s vegan, unlike the capsule form. Similar to other Pure Encapsulation supplements, it doesn’t contain wheat, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, gluten, artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, coatings, shellacs, GMOS, and unnecessary binders, fillers, and preservatives.
Garden of Life: Raw Vitamin Code D3
If you’re looking for one supplement that has multiple functions, you’ll be happy to hear that this vitamin D3 supplement also includes probiotics and digestive enzymes. (Both are great for PCOS. Read our post about the best probiotics for PCOS here.) Garden of Life uses only organic, whole food products and doesn’t include the stuff you don’t want: gluten, GMOs, synthetic binders, and any artificial sweeteners, colors, or additives are out. It’s all clean!
Thorne Vitamin D3
Thorne vitamins are another affordable supplement brand. The D3 is free from lactose, preservatives, gluten, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, soy, fish, or shellfish. Their supplements are well-researched and are the only brand to be manufactured in collaborating with the Mayo Clinic. It’s a great product, but it is not vegan or vegetarian. If you follow either lifestyle, choose one of the other supplements on this list.
Designs for Health: Liposomal D Supreme Vitamin D3 Liquid
This is another Designs for Health D3 and K1/K2 supplement, but this is in a liquid form. It’s made of only clean ingredients and it’s still in that tinted glass bottle. It’s non-GMO, vegetarian, and gluten-free, but this liquid supplement is not vegan. It’s also, again, one of the most expensive supplements on the list.
Vitamin D3 is the best form of vitamin D.
If you’re a woman dealing with PCOS, you want as much natural support as possible. When combined with the right lifestyle, exercise, and diet changes, supplements like vitamin D3 can help your PCOS reversal journey! (Find more of the best natural supplements for PCOS here.) If you don’t want to go at it alone, join the Cysterhood. We’re a community of women learning to live and thrive with polycystic ovarian syndrome together!
