Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
cholecalciferol, C27H44O
Vitamin DIngredient formSources last checked: October 15, 2026
Medical & Industry Advisor: Dr. James Pendleton, ND
Answer
Vitamin D3 is an ingredient form (cholecalciferol, C27H44O), sold on the open market with no trademark program. This page lists what to put on a spec sheet, how it is declared on the Supplement Facts label, how it compares with related forms, what published market surveys measured, and the government safety limit, each with its source.
Access
- Access model
- Open market
What it is
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, C27H44O, molecular weight 384.6) is typically produced by UV irradiation of 7-dehydrocholesterol from lanolin, which comes from sheep's wool. An animal-free vitamin D3 sourced from lichen is also available. [NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D fact sheet][PubChem compound properties]
Forms compared
How vitamin D3 compares with related forms on a spec sheet and a label.
| Form | Declared on the label as | Content | Identity check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D3 from lanolin or from lichen | Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) | Cholecalciferol, C27H44O, molecular weight 384.6, from either source[PubChem compound properties, 2026-10-15][NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D fact sheet, 2026-10-15] | The supplier's statement of the source: lanolin from sheep's wool (animal) or lichen (animal-free, which a vegan claim depends on) |
| Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) | Vitamin D (as ergocalciferol) | Ergocalciferol, made by UV irradiation of ergosterol in yeast; differs from D3 only in its side chain[NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D fact sheet, 2026-10-15] | The compound named on the CoA: ergocalciferol, not cholecalciferol |
| Dry beadlet (microencapsulated vitamin D3) | Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol); the beadlet carriers join the product's ingredient list | Example raw-material sheet: at least 100,000 IU per g (2,500 mcg per g)[Raw-material supplier technical sheet, dry vitamin D3 beadlets, 2026-10-15] | Assay per gram on the CoA, and the carrier list (the example sheet lists sucrose, gum arabic, corn starch, medium-chain triglycerides and tricalcium phosphate) |
On the Supplement Facts label
Vitamin D is declared in mcg; the amount in IU may follow in parentheses, and 1 mcg equals 40 IU, so 50 mcg is shown as 50 mcg (2,000 IU). Compliance follows 21 CFR 101.9(g): an added (class I) nutrient must be at least equal to the value declared on the label.[21 CFR 101.36(b)(2)(ii)(B) and 101.36(f)(1), 2026-10-15][21 CFR 101.9(g)(3) and 101.9(g)(4), 2026-10-15][NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D fact sheet, 2026-10-15]
Spec parameters buyers should demand
What to ask for on the certificate of analysis and spec sheet. Identity, quality, and regulatory parameters only. This is not advice about efficacy.
| Parameter | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Source | State lanolin (animal) or lichen (animal-free) vitamin D3 on the spec, and whether the finished product is meant to be vegan.[NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D fact sheet][Raw-material supplier technical sheet, dry vitamin D3 beadlets] | A raw-material sheet can rate lanolin-derived D3 as vegetarian (the example sheet does, because the starting material comes from wool grease), which is not the same as vegan. |
| Raw-material form | Name the form: a dry beadlet (the example sheet lists tablets, hard-shell capsules, syrups and gummies as uses) or an oil for softgels and drops. For a beadlet, get the carrier list.[Raw-material supplier technical sheet, dry vitamin D3 beadlets] | Beadlet carriers such as sucrose, gum arabic and corn starch become part of the finished product's ingredient list and affect allergen and vegan statements. |
| Content uniformity | Ask for content uniformity data on the finished product. At 2,500 mcg per g, a 50 mcg serving needs about 20 mg of beadlet.[Raw-material supplier technical sheet, dry vitamin D3 beadlets] | The vitamin is a very small share of each unit's fill, so blending, not capsule space, is the manufacturing risk. |
| End-of-shelf-life assay | Ask for the vitamin D assay at the end of shelf life and the overage the manufacturer's own stability data support, not a generic percentage.[Raw-material supplier technical sheet, dry vitamin D3 beadlets][21 CFR 101.9(g)(4)(i)] | Vitamin D3 is sensitive to light, heat, oxygen and moisture, and an added vitamin must still meet its declared value. |
| Identity verification | Confirm the manufacturer runs at least one appropriate identity test on each incoming lot, as 21 CFR 111.75(a)(1) requires for every dietary ingredient unless FDA has granted a petition exemption, and that the CoA names cholecalciferol (D3), not ergocalciferol (D2).[21 CFR 111.75(a)(1)] | D2 and D3 are declared under the same nutrient name, so the compound on the CoA is how a buyer tells them apart. |
Published market surveys
Totals as each study reports them: what was measured, how many products, and the result. Methods and sampling differ between studies.
| Measured | Study | Market, products tested | Result | Funding or affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content vs label | Garg et al., J Nutr Health Aging 2013 | New Zealand, n=14 | Of 14 formulations measured by HPLC (12 non-prescription supplements and 2 registered prescription products), 60% were within 10% of the label claim; the non-prescription supplements ranged from 8% to 201% of the labeled amount. | Not stated |
| Content vs label | Bojanić and Djermanović, Biomedicinska istraživanja 2023 | Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), n=49 | Measured vitamin D ranged from 64.4% to 188.8% of the declared content; after measurement uncertainty, 1 sample (2.0%) was outside the legally allowed range. | Independent |
| Content vs label | LeBlanc et al., JAMA Internal Medicine 2013 (research letter) | Retail stores in Portland, Oregon (US), n=15 | Over-the-counter pills contained 52% to 135% of the expected dose; just over half met USP standards. | Industry-affiliated |
Government safety limit
| Limit or safety conclusion | Population | Source wording |
|---|---|---|
| 100 mcg (4,000 IU)/day of vitamin D | Ages 9 and older, including pregnancy and lactation (NIH Table 4) | The Tolerable Upper Intake Level for vitamin D ranges from 25 to 100 mcg (1,000–4,000 IU), depending on age.[source, read 2026-10-15] |
Government statements, quoted
Dietary supplements can contain vitamins D2 or D3. Vitamin D2 is manufactured using UV irradiation of ergosterol in yeast, and vitamin D3 is typically produced with irradiation of 7-dehydrocholesterol from lanolin obtained from the wool of sheep [13,31]. An animal-free version of vitamin D3 sourced from lichen is also available [32].
FDA requires food labels to list vitamin D content in mcg per serving. In addition, labels may optionally list the amount in IUs in parentheses.
The FNB established ULs for vitamin D in 2010 (Table 4) [1]. While acknowledging that signs and symptoms of toxicity are unlikely at daily intakes below 250 mcg (10,000 IU), the FNB noted that even vitamin D intakes lower than the ULs might have adverse health effects over time.
Reference list
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D Health Professional Fact Sheet (updated June 27, 2025) Government reference
- 21 CFR 101.36: Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements Regulatory
- 21 CFR 101.9(g): compliance classes and label-value requirements Regulatory
- 21 CFR 111.75: identity testing of dietary ingredients Regulatory
- PubChem compound record: vitamin D3, cholecalciferol (CID 5280795) Government reference
- Garg et al., vitamin D content of supplements in New Zealand, J Nutr Health Aging 2013;17(2):158-161 Market survey
- Bojanić and Djermanović, vitamin D content of food supplements, Biomedicinska istraživanja 2023;14(1) Market survey
- LeBlanc et al., over-the-counter and compounded vitamin D potency, JAMA Intern Med 2013;173(7):585-586 Market survey
- Raw-material supplier technical sheet: dry vitamin D3 beadlets (Version 4, 08.2026) Owner technical
A reference list is not claim substantiation. Under the FTC's Health Products Compliance Guidance (December 2022), marketing claims about a finished product require competent and reliable scientific evidence, typically randomized, controlled human clinical testing. Responsibility for substantiating product claims rests with the brand.
Manufacturers with stated capability
No manufacturer has a listed capability for this ingredient yet. Listings are positive-only: an entry states a manufacturer can run the ingredient, never that one cannot.
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Further reading
The decision framework behind this reference: five checkable criteria for choosing between a branded ingredient and its generic form.
What this page does not tell you
- Which supplier to buy from, pricing, minimum order volumes, or contract terms.
- Anything about efficacy. This is an identity, labeling, and quality reference.
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