Vitamins

In this category, you will find vitamins in capsules, tablets, and drops: D3 alone and with K2, K2 separately, vitamin C, B group complexes, and folic acid. Most are products from brands Navigator, LABIFY, and Aura Care. Below, we explain the differences in doses and forms and what to check on the label before making a choice.

What you will find in the category

Vitamin D3 is available alone or with K2 in the form of MK-7. Navigator offers D3 10,000 IU in soft gel capsules, in packages of 180 and 365 pcs, as well as D3 with K2 in hard capsules. LABIFY Body D3+ combines 4000 IU of D3 with K2, calcium citrate, and quercetin.

Vitamin C is available in capsules Aura Care Vitamin C 1000 and LABIFY Body Vitamin C+. The B group can be found in drops Aura Care Vitamin B Full Spectrum, in Navigator B-50, in LABIFY Body B Complex+, and in tablets Vitamin B Complex. Separately, there are Navigator K2 MK-7 and LABIFY Folic Acid MONO.

Dose, NRV, and units

The most important number on the label is the content of the ingredient in the daily portion and its percentage of the nutrient reference value, i.e., NRV. The range here is large: the Vitamin B Complex tablets provide each of the eight vitamins at 100% NRV, while Navigator B-50 contains 50 mg of several B vitamins in one capsule.

Vitamin D is measured in micrograms or international units. 250 µg of cholecalciferol equals 10,000 IU, which is 5000% NRV, and 100 µg equals 4000 IU and 2000% NRV. With such high doses, Navigator recommends first testing 25(OH)D in the blood and discussing the result with a doctor or pharmacist.

A high percentage of NRV is not an error on the label. It refers to the reference point, not to how much you specifically need.

Chemical form of the ingredient

The same vitamin can exist in different forms. B12 is cyanocobalamin in drops Aura Care, while methylcobalamin is in Navigator B-50 and in tablets Vitamin B Complex. Folic Acid MONO contains folic acid, not methylfolate, and Body B Complex+ describes its ingredients as active forms without specifying amounts.

Vitamin C in Aura Care capsules comes from three sources: L-ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, and extract from rose hips, totaling 1000 mg in two capsules. For sodium ascorbate, the manufacturer provides 484 mg of raw material and 430 mg calculated as vitamin C, so read both numbers together.

In B complexes, pay attention to choline, inositol, and PABA. Manufacturers call them vitamins B4, B8, and B10, but none of these substances are classified as vitamins in the European Union and do not have an established NRV. More about the B group is discussed in the text B group vitamin complex.

Vitamins in capsules, tablets, and drops

Navigator’s hard capsules have a coating made of HPMC, i.e., cellulose, and a filler from rice fractions. Soft capsules with D3 alone have a coating made of bovine gelatin and soybean oil as a carrier, so they are not suitable for a vegetarian diet or a soy-free diet. Cholecalciferol in both versions comes from lanolin, which is fat from sheep wool.

Aura Care drops with the B group have a serving of 10 drops in a 15 ml bottle and are added to a cool drink. The Vitamin B Complex tablets are labeled as vegan, and the serving is one tablet daily.

Fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins

Vitamin D and vitamin K are fat-soluble, which is why LABIFY recommends Body D3+ with a meal containing fats, and Navigator’s soft capsules have D3 enclosed in oil. K2 in the form of MK-7 comes from fermentation with Bacillus subtilis natto at Navigator. Why they are combined in one capsule is explained in the text vitamin D3 and K2.

The B group and vitamin C are water-soluble, so a meal is a convenient time for them, not a requirement. More important is the division of the portion: Body Vitamin C+ is one capsule daily, while the daily portion of Aura Care Vitamin C 1000 is provided by the packaging.

Frequently asked questions

How much is 10,000 IU of vitamin D3?

That is 250 µg of cholecalciferol, which is 5000% NRV in one capsule of Navigator. LABIFY Body D3+ has 4000 IU, which is 100 µg, in a serving of two capsules. IU stands for international units, used alongside micrograms. Navigator recommends testing the level of 25(OH)D in the blood and discussing the result with a doctor or pharmacist at this dose.

Is D3 with K2 taken daily?

It depends on the preparation. Navigator D3 10,000 IU with K2 in a package of 120 capsules is recommended at 1 capsule every 5 days, with a meal. D3 and K2 are fat-soluble vitamins, so LABIFY recommends taking Body D3+ with a meal containing fat. Always check the frequency on the label of your package.

Are the products in this category vegan?

Not all of them. Soft capsules with D3 contain bovine gelatin, and D3 from lanolin is an animal-derived ingredient. Soft capsules also contain soybean oil as a carrier, so they are not suitable for a soy-free diet. The Vitamin B Complex tablets are labeled as vegan, and Navigator’s hard capsules have a plant-based coating made of HPMC.

What is the difference between B-50 and other B complexes?

B-50 is a formulation where several B vitamins are present in equal amounts of 50 mg. Navigator adds choline, inositol, and PABA. The Vitamin B Complex tablets go in the opposite direction: each vitamin at 100% NRV. Choline, inositol, and PABA are referred to by manufacturers as vitamins B4, B8, and B10, but they do not have an established NRV.

How long does one package last?

According to the label, Folic Acid MONO lasts for 90 days, Body Vitamin C+ for 60 days, and Body D3+ for 30 days. Body D3+ has a serving of two capsules daily, while Body Vitamin C+ has one. For Navigator, the number of days depends on the frequency indicated on the label of the specific package.