Most vitamin D3 is not vegan. It is made from lanolin, the grease in sheep's wool. It is, however, vegetarian, and that distinction gets lost constantly.
There is one genuinely vegan source of D3, which is lichen. Here is how the three options actually compare.
WHERE DOES VITAMIN D3 COME FROM?
Almost all commercial D3 starts as lanolin. Sheep produce it to waterproof their wool, it is recovered when the wool is cleaned after shearing, and the cholesterol in it is converted to cholecalciferol using UV light.
| Source | Form | Vegetarian | Vegan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lanolin, from sheep's wool | D3, cholecalciferol | Yes | No |
| Lichen | D3, cholecalciferol | Yes | Yes |
| Yeast or mushrooms, UV-treated | D2, ergocalciferol | Yes | Yes |
| Fish liver oil | D3, cholecalciferol | No | No |
IS LANOLIN VEGETARIAN?
Yes. This is the part that gets misunderstood most often, so it is worth stating plainly.
Lanolin is wool grease. Sheep produce it continuously the way humans produce skin oils, and it is recovered from wool after shearing. No animal is killed or harmed to obtain it, and the sheep would produce it regardless. It is a byproduct of the wool industry in the same category as milk or eggs rather than in the same category as gelatin or fish oil.
That makes lanolin-derived D3 suitable for vegetarians. It is not vegan, because veganism excludes animal-derived products generally, not only those requiring an animal's death. Both positions are internally consistent. They are just answering different questions.
Lanolin is wool grease, not an animal product in the way gelatin is. Vegetarian, not vegan.
DOES LICHEN VITAMIN D3 WORK?
Yes. Lichen produces genuine cholecalciferol, chemically identical to the lanolin-derived version. Your body cannot tell them apart, because there is nothing to tell apart.
The trade-offs are practical rather than biochemical. Lichen D3 costs considerably more to produce, so products using it are more expensive, and it is available in fewer formats and dose strengths. If you are vegan, it is the right choice and it does the job.
IS VITAMIN D2 A GOOD VEGAN OPTION?
It is vegan, and it is the weaker option.
D2 comes from UV-treated yeast or mushrooms and is genuinely plant-derived. But a 2012 meta-analysis in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found D3 more effective than D2 at raising and sustaining serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. D2 also appears to degrade faster in storage.
So if you are choosing a vegan option, lichen D3 is the better one, and it costs more for that reason. D2 is the cheaper vegan route and you give something up for it. We went through D3 versus D2 in more detail.
HOW DO YOU TELL WHICH SOURCE A PRODUCT USES?
Labels are often vague about this, which is its own signal.
- Cholecalciferol with no source named is almost always lanolin. Brands using lichen advertise it, because it costs them more.
- Vegan D3 means lichen. There is no other vegan source of D3.
- Ergocalciferol is D2, from yeast or mushrooms.
- Vitamin D from fish liver oil is neither vegan nor vegetarian.
Also check the carrier and the capsule. A lichen D3 in a gelatin capsule is not vegan, and gelatin is animal-derived in a way lanolin is not.
WHAT D3X USES, AND WHO IT IS FOR
D3X uses lanolin-derived D3. It is vegetarian and it is not vegan. If you are vegan, buy a lichen-based product instead, and check that the capsule or carrier is vegan too.
If you are vegetarian, or you simply want the form with the strongest evidence behind it, lanolin D3 is the same cholecalciferol used in most of the research. D3X pairs it with K2 as MK-7 in organic olive oil, so the fat needed for absorption arrives with every dose rather than depending on your last meal.* Three ingredients, no gelatin capsule, no fillers.
We would rather tell you this plainly than have you find out after ordering.
Sources
Tripkovic L, et al. "Comparison of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation in raising serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status: a systematic review and meta-analysis." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2012.
Frequently Asked
Is vitamin D3 vegan?
Most is not. Almost all commercial D3 is made from lanolin, the grease in sheep's wool, which is vegetarian but not vegan. Lichen-derived D3 is the only genuinely vegan source of cholecalciferol.
Is lanolin vegetarian?
Yes. Lanolin is wool grease recovered after shearing. Sheep produce it continuously the way humans produce skin oils, and no animal is killed or harmed to obtain it. It sits in the same category as milk or eggs rather than gelatin or fish oil.
Where does vitamin D3 come from?
Almost all commercial D3 starts as lanolin from sheep's wool, where the cholesterol is converted to cholecalciferol using UV light. The alternatives are lichen, which is vegan, and fish liver oil, which is neither vegan nor vegetarian.
Does lichen vitamin D3 work as well as lanolin D3?
Yes. Lichen produces genuine cholecalciferol that is chemically identical to the lanolin-derived version, so the body cannot distinguish them. The trade-offs are cost and availability rather than effectiveness.
Is vitamin D2 a good vegan option?
It is vegan but weaker. A 2012 meta-analysis found D3 more effective than D2 at raising and sustaining serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and D2 appears to degrade faster in storage. Lichen D3 is the stronger vegan choice.
How do you tell if vitamin D3 is from lanolin or lichen?
If the label says cholecalciferol without naming a source, it is almost always lanolin. Brands using lichen advertise it because it costs more. Vegan D3 means lichen, since there is no other vegan source of D3. Also check whether the capsule contains gelatin.
