Vitamin D is an important hormone that can be synthesised from cholesterol in the tissues of the skin, and which is also present in a number of foods. Vitamin D is difficult to obtain in the diet as it is such a limited range of foods and as such the main source of vitamin D is through the action of sunlight on the skin via endogenous synthesis. However, supplements are useful during winter months in latitudes that recluse sun exposure, and as a result supplements can be used to optimise vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is available as both a dry tablet form and an oil based form, and both appear to be well absorbed. For example, in one study, researchers administered either a dry form vitamin D supplement or oil based fish oil form to subjects at a dose of 10 micrograms per day. After 4 weeks both supplements had significantly raised blood levels of vitamin D but there was no difference in the effectiveness of the supplements. Therefore both dry form and oil form vitamin D appear to be equally effective at raising blood levels of vitamin D.
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