Sports Research Vitamin D3 + K2 is the vitamin D you reach for when the usual softgel is off the table. Most D3 on the shelf comes from lanolin (sheep’s wool) or fish, wrapped in a gelatin softgel — neither of which works if you are vegan. This one is built the other way around: the D3 is derived from lichen, and it is delivered in a plant-based “PlantGel” capsule with coconut MCT and olive oil, so the whole product is genuinely vegan. For its intended buyer, that is not a small thing — it is the reason to consider it at all.
It also gets the K2 right. The K2 here is MK-7, which has a longer half-life than MK-4 and is the better match for something you take once a day. So the formulation is sound. This review turns on two other checkable things: the size of the dose against a published upper limit, and how far the testing and the price sit from the leaders of the category. Here’s the full scorecard.
At a glance
Quick verdict
Sports Research Vitamin D3 + K2 is the best vegan vitamin D we have scored, and it earns that spot honestly: the D3 is from lichen rather than lanolin or fish, the capsule is genuinely plant-based, and the K2 is the longer-lasting MK-7 rather than MK-4. If your requirement is a vegan D3 + K2, the formulation is a cut above what the rest of the shelf offers. That is real, and it is why it is here.
What keeps it at 69 — Mixed — is honest and specific. The dose is 5,000 IU, which sits above the 4,000 IU tolerable upper limit — that is an amount for correcting a diagnosed deficiency under a doctor’s guidance, not a number to take indefinitely as everyday maintenance. The testing is thinner than the leaders: the seals it carries verify that it is non-GMO and vegan, not that it is pure and correctly dosed, and the “third-party tested” claim never tells you which lab. And at about $0.40 a serving it is the priciest vitamin D in the field by a wide margin. If you specifically need vegan D3 + K2 and your doctor is fine with the dose, it is well formulated and worth it. As a default vitamin D, it is the pricey, over-dosed route.
A consistent summary of formula, transparency, value and experience. Not a medical rating.
Scores follow our published 100-point methodology, applied identically to every product. View the scoring methodology.
May suit you if
- You specifically need a vegan vitamin D3 + K2 — lichen-derived D3 in a plant-based capsule — and animal-derived softgels are off the table
- Your doctor has you correcting a diagnosed deficiency and is comfortable with a 5,000 IU dose taken with guidance rather than indefinitely
- You want the longer-lasting MK-7 form of K2 in a once-daily capsule and are willing to pay a premium for the vegan formulation
Skip it if
- You want an everyday maintenance dose with comfortable headroom under the 4,000 IU upper limit — 5,000 IU sits above it, so a 1,000–2,000 IU product is the sensible default
- You want top-tier third-party verification of purity and potency — this carries only non-GMO and vegan seals plus an unnamed “third-party tested” claim, no USP or NSF
- Price matters, or you have a tree-nut concern — at about $0.40 a serving it is the most expensive in the field, and it contains coconut
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Key findings
Product specifications
| Format | Vegan softgel (PlantGel capsule); one per serving |
|---|---|
| Price (checked July 21, 2026) | ~$23.95 (60-count bottle) |
| Cost per serving | ~$0.40 — the priciest vitamin D in our comparison |
| Vitamin D form | D3 (cholecalciferol) derived from lichen — vegan |
| Vitamin D dose | 5,000 IU (125 mcg) per serving |
| Dose vs limit | Above the 4,000 IU (100 mcg) tolerable upper limit — a deficiency-correction amount |
| Vitamin K2 | 100 mcg as MK-7 (longer half-life than MK-4) |
| Oil base | Coconut MCT and olive oil (supports absorption) |
| Allergen | Contains a tree nut (coconut) |
| Certification | Non-GMO Project Verified; Certified Vegan; generic “third-party tested” (lab unnamed) — no USP or NSF |
The formula: vegan, well made, over-dosed
On formulation, Sports Research does the hard part well. The D3 is cholecalciferol derived from lichen — the same active form as lanolin- or fish-derived D3, but vegan — and it is delivered in a plant-based PlantGel capsule with coconut MCT and olive oil. That oil base matters: vitamin D is fat-soluble, and an oil carrier supports absorption better than a dry tablet. The K2 is MK-7, which has a longer half-life than MK-4 and is the better choice for something taken once a day. As a vegan D3 + K2, it is the best-built product in our field — formula 20/25.
The deduction is the dose, and it is a real one. At 5,000 IU (125 mcg), the D3 is above the 4,000 IU (100 mcg) tolerable upper limit. Sensible daily maintenance is 1,000–2,000 IU; 5,000 IU is a dose for correcting a diagnosed deficiency under a doctor’s guidance, not one to take indefinitely. The formulation is sound, but the number on the label assumes a use case — deficiency correction — that most everyday buyers don’t have.
The testing column
The certification here is thinner than it first looks, and worth stating precisely. Sports Research is Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan — both real third-party marks, and both genuinely useful if what you care about is GMO status and vegan sourcing. But neither verifies purity or potency: they do not confirm that what is in the capsule matches the label or that it is free of contaminants. The brand also makes a generic “third-party tested” claim — but it never names the lab or the program, so there is no way to check what was tested or against what standard. What it does not carry is the credential that would move testing higher: there is no USP Verified or NSF mark on this product. That mix — real non-GMO and vegan seals, but no named lab and no top-tier quality-and-potency verification — is why testing lands at 12/20, below the category leaders.
To be clear about what we have and haven’t checked: we photographed the label and verified the form, the dose, the K2 type and the certifications on it as of July 21, 2026. No safety or quality red flags surfaced in our review, though the coconut-derived tree-nut content is worth noting for anyone with a nut allergy.
What it’s like to take
We have not yet run our own long-term trial — we photographed the label, and our hands-on testing is still pending, which we’d rather say plainly than pretend otherwise. What we can report is the durable consensus: the plant-based softgel is small and easy to swallow, the oil base means it is best taken with a meal that contains some fat, and the vegan formulation is the whole reason people who need it stick with it. The recurring caveat is not about taste but about the dose — 5,000 IU is a lot to take every day without a reason, and the sensible path for most people is to confirm the amount with a clinician and a blood test rather than default to it. Experience 8/10, and we’ll update it once our own trial is done.
The math: the priciest vitamin D here
This is where Sports Research loses ground. A 60-count bottle runs about $23.95, which works out to roughly $0.40 a serving — the highest per-serving cost of any vitamin D in our comparison, by a wide margin. For context, our top-scoring pick, Nature Made D3 2,000 IU, runs about $0.13 a serving with USP Verification, and NOW’s D-3 is about $0.07. Even the other 5,000 IU product in our field comes in far cheaper. You are paying a real premium for the vegan lichen-derived D3 and the plant-based capsule — which is defensible if that is exactly what you need, and hard to justify if it isn’t. Value 8/15: the formulation is strong, but the price is the steepest in the category and the dose is one most people shouldn’t be paying for daily.
Returns and where to buy
Widely available through major retailers and Sports Research’s own channels rather than a subscription-first model, which spares you the usual auto-ship friction. Ordinary bottle care applies — keep it cool and sealed so the oil-based capsules don’t degrade. One practical flag worth repeating: the capsule’s coconut MCT means it contains a tree nut, so anyone with a coconut or tree-nut allergy should skip it. No safety or quality red flags surfaced in our review, and the Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan seals are points in its favor for the buyer who needs them (checked July 21, 2026).
What customers report
We read customer feedback across the major platforms and summarize the recurring themes. We don’t republish other platforms’ reviews — check the live sources yourself:
Retail & DTC reviews
Broadly positive
Long-running high ratings; praise centers on the vegan sourcing and easy-to-swallow capsule — criticism centers on the high dose and the price relative to ordinary D3.
View live reviews →Certification & testing
Non-GMO and Certified Vegan
Carries real non-GMO and vegan seals, but no USP or NSF verification and an unnamed “third-party tested” lab, as of July 21, 2026.
Check the certifications →Dietitian & expert coverage
Favorable with a dose caveat
Dietitians tend to praise it as the standout vegan D3 + K2 while flagging that 5,000 IU is above the upper limit and better suited to correcting a deficiency — the same split this review scores.
Search expert reviews →We don't fact-check or verify individual customer reviews — reviewers' opinions and experiences are their own, and we never treat them as evidence that a product works or doesn't. We read feedback at scale, report recurring themes, and link the live sources.
Every factual claim on this page that is ours carries a checked date and a source. Spot an error? Tell us — corrections run under our corrections policy.
Reader reports · 0 so far
Share your experienceRight of reply: Sports Research is welcome to respond to this review on the record — particularly by naming the third-party lab behind its “third-party tested” claim, or adding USP or NSF verification. Contact our editorial team — responses are published unedited alongside this review.
What to buy instead
For everyday maintenance, a sensible 1,000–2,000 IU dose that is third-party verified and cheap beats a 5,000 IU premium product for most people — which is why our vitamin D roundup leans that way. Nature Made D3 2,000 IU (87/100) is our best overall and best value: USP Verified, at about $0.13 a serving. NOW D-3 2,000 IU (84/100) is the cheapest sensible dose at about $0.07. If you want a D3 + K2 combo at a more conservative dose, Thorne D + K2 (81/100) pairs 1,000 IU of D3 with K2 and carries NSF Contents Certification. Where Sports Research still earns its spot is the one thing none of those offer: a genuinely vegan D3 + K2. If that is your requirement and your doctor is fine with the dose, it is the pick — just read the elemental dose first with our dose checker. And to be plain: Earth Energy, the independently operated brand under common ownership with this site, makes no vitamin D product, so there is no in-house alternative to recommend here.
Final assessment
Sports Research Vitamin D3 + K2 is the honest kind of Mixed: a genuinely well-made product for a specific buyer, carrying a couple of real weaknesses for everyone else. It is the best vegan vitamin D we have scored — lichen-derived D3, a plant-based capsule, and the longer-lasting MK-7 form of K2 — and if a vegan D3 + K2 is what you need, the formulation is a cut above the shelf. 69/100 — Mixed — because the dose is 5,000 IU, above the 4,000 IU upper limit and better suited to correcting a diagnosed deficiency than to everyday use; because the testing verifies non-GMO and vegan status rather than purity and potency and never names its lab; and because at about $0.40 a serving it is the priciest vitamin D in the field. If you specifically need vegan D3 + K2 and your doctor is fine with the dose, it is well formulated and worth it. As a default vitamin D, it is the pricey, over-dosed route — a sensible 1,000–2,000 IU verified product covers most people for a fraction of the cost. And if you take medications or have a health condition, run any new daily vitamin D past your doctor first.
Frequently asked questions
How much vitamin D is in Sports Research Vitamin D3 + K2?
Each serving delivers 5,000 IU (125 mcg) of D3 — derived from lichen, so it’s vegan — plus 100 mcg of K2 as MK-7. That 5,000 IU dose sits above the 4,000 IU (100 mcg) tolerable upper limit, which makes it a deficiency-correction amount to take under a doctor’s guidance rather than an everyday maintenance dose. It scores 69/100.
Is Sports Research Vitamin D3 + K2 vegan?
Yes — and it’s the vegan pick of our comparison. The D3 is derived from lichen rather than lanolin or fish, it’s delivered in a plant-based PlantGel capsule with coconut MCT and olive oil, and it’s Certified Vegan and Non-GMO Project Verified. Note that the coconut MCT means it contains a tree nut, so it’s not suitable for anyone with a coconut or tree-nut allergy.
Is 5,000 IU of vitamin D too much?
For most people taking it every day, yes — 5,000 IU is above the 4,000 IU tolerable upper limit. Sensible daily maintenance is 1,000–2,000 IU. A 5,000 IU dose is meant for correcting a diagnosed deficiency under a clinician’s guidance, ideally with a blood test, not for indefinite everyday use. If you just want a maintenance dose, a 1,000–2,000 IU product is the better default.
Is Sports Research Vitamin D3 + K2 third-party tested?
It’s Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan, both real seals — but they verify GMO and vegan status, not purity or potency. The brand also makes a generic “third-party tested” claim, but it never names the lab or program, so there’s no way to check it. It carries no USP or NSF verification. That’s why testing scores 12/20, below the category leaders.
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Sources
- Sports Research Vitamin D3 + K2 — official product, ingredient and pricing pages (lichen-derived vegan D3, 5,000 IU / 125 mcg per serving; 100 mcg K2 as MK-7; plant-based PlantGel capsule with coconut MCT and olive oil; Non-GMO Project Verified; Certified Vegan; generic “third-party tested” claim; ~60 servings per bottle). Checked July 21, 2026. sportsresearch.com
- The Ingredient Report — vitamin D category comparison and scored reviews of Nature Made D3 2,000 IU (87/100), NOW D-3 2,000 IU (84/100), Thorne D + K2 (81/100), NatureWise D3 5,000 IU (76/100) and Nordic Naturals D3 1,000 IU (75/100). Checked July 21, 2026.
- Institute of Medicine / NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — vitamin D fact sheet establishing the 4,000 IU (100 mcg) tolerable upper limit and sensible daily intake, and the D3-versus-D2 comparison. Accessed July 21, 2026.
- Retailer and dietitian coverage (ratings, vegan-sourcing praise, high-dose and price caveats; linked live, not republished). Accessed July 21, 2026.
Update history
- July 21, 2026 — Report first published. Form, dose, K2 type, certifications and pricing checked this date; label photographed, hands-on trial pending. We re-score on the record if Sports Research names its third-party lab, adds USP or NSF verification, changes the dose, or its pricing changes materially.
Content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider before starting a daily vitamin D supplement, especially at 5,000 IU, if you take medications or have a health condition. Medical disclaimer.