If you follow a vegan lifestyle, you may assume all vitamin supplements are plant-based, but vitamin D is one nutrient that often surprises people. The answer is: some vitamin D supplements are vegan, and many are not.
The good news? There are now highly effective vegan vitamin D supplements available in Australia, including the carefully selected range at Biome.
Why vitamin D matters
Vitamin D plays an essential role in:
- Supporting immune system health
- Maintaining healthy bones and teeth
- Helping the body absorb calcium
- Supporting muscle function
- General wellbeing and mood
While our bodies naturally produce vitamin D from sunlight exposure, many Australians still struggle to maintain healthy levels — especially during winter, when working indoors, using sunscreen regularly, or living in cooler southern regions of Australia like Tasmania and Victoria.
Vitamin D works synergistically with nutrients like calcium and magnesium, which is why many people also explore vegan mineral supplements to support bone health.
Vitamin D is often paired with other nutrients that support immune health, including zinc, medicinal mushrooms, and whole-food natural vitamin C.
Why some vitamin D is not vegan
This is where things get confusing.
There are two main forms of vitamin D used in supplements:
Vitamin D2
Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is usually derived from yeast or mushrooms and is generally vegan-friendly.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is often considered the preferred form for raising and maintaining vitamin D levels in the body.
However, traditional vitamin D3 is commonly sourced from lanolin, a waxy substance derived from sheep’s wool. This means many vitamin D3 supplements are not vegan, even if the rest of the ingredients are plant-based.
Learn more about the other animal ingredients often used in supplements.
So, is there vegan vitamin D?
Yes — both vegan vitamin D2 and vegan vitamin D3 supplements are available.
Some vegan vitamin D3 supplements are made from lichen, while others, like Hi-D, use UV-activated mushrooms to naturally produce vitamin D2 through a whole-food process.
The important thing is checking the source carefully, because many supplements simply list “vitamin D” or “vitamin D3” without clarifying whether it comes from animal-derived lanolin.
What makes Hi-D different?
Hi-D takes a completely different approach to vitamin D supplementation, grounded in whole-food nutrition science.
Unlike many synthetic vitamin D supplements derived from lanolin or chemical processes, Hi-D uses UV-activated organic Shiitake mushrooms to naturally produce vitamin D.
According to the brand, Hi-D is:
- Made from UV-activated Shiitake mushrooms — producing vitamin D naturally in a similar way to human skin
- Made from the whole fruiting body only — no mycelium, grain filler, or starch-heavy binders
- 100% plant-based Vitamin D
- Grown on certified organic small-scale farms
- Packaged with a zero-waste philosophy using recyclable packaging
Hi-D contains vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) naturally produced through UV exposure of Shiitake mushrooms. The brand states this whole-food mushroom-derived vitamin D is highly bioavailable and effective at supporting healthy vitamin D levels.
Mushroom-based wellness products are becoming increasingly popular among people seeking whole-food, plant-based alternatives to synthetic supplements. Explore Biome’s range of mushroom supplements.
Vegan vitamin D supplements at Biome
At Biome, we specifically choose Australian made vegan supplements aligned with ethical, plant-based, and low-tox living values.
These supplements are plant-based Vitamin D:
What vegans should look for in a vitamin D supplement
When shopping for vegan vitamin D, check for:
- Clear vegan certification or plant-based claims
- The source of the vitamin D clearly stated
- Lanolin free Vitamin D
- Whole-food or minimally processed ingredients where possible
- Transparent ingredient sourcing
Many supplements simply say “vitamin D3” without clarifying the source, so it is worth checking carefully.
Final thoughts
So, is vitamin D vegan?
- Some vitamin D supplements are vegan
- Many conventional vitamin D3 supplements are not vegan because they use lanolin from sheep’s wool
- Mushroom-derived vitamin D2 and some plant-based vitamin D3 supplements are vegan options
If you want a vegan vitamin D supplement, look for brands that clearly state the source and avoid animal-derived lanolin.
Explore Biome’s range of vegan vitamin D supplements:
Related collections at Biome
Frequently Asked Questions about Vitamin D
Is vitamin D3 made from sheep’s wool?
Many conventional vitamin D3 supplements are made using lanolin, a waxy substance derived from sheep’s wool. This means not all vitamin D3 supplements are vegan. However, some vegan vitamin D3 supplements are now made from lichen, a plant-like organism, instead of lanolin.
Is mushroom vitamin D effective?
Yes. Mushroom-derived vitamin D2 is considered an effective vegan source of whole-food vitamin D. Products like Hi-D use UV-activated Shiitake mushrooms to naturally produce vitamin D through a whole-food process. Research suggests mushroom-derived vitamin D2 can help support healthy vitamin D levels when taken consistently.
What is lanolin?
Lanolin is a waxy substance naturally produced by sheep to protect their wool and skin. It is commonly used in cosmetics, skin care products, and many conventional vitamin D3 supplements. Because lanolin is animal-derived, it is not considered vegan.
Can vegans take vitamin D3?
Yes — but vegans should check the source carefully. Traditional vitamin D3 is often derived from lanolin, while vegan vitamin D3 is usually sourced from lichen. Always look for supplements clearly labelled vegan or plant-based.
Is vitamin D2 vegan?
Vitamin D2 is generally considered vegan because it is typically derived from mushrooms or yeast rather than animal ingredients. Many plant-based supplements use vitamin D2 as a vegan alternative to lanolin-derived vitamin D3.
What is the difference between vitamin D2 and D3?
Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is usually sourced from mushrooms or yeast and is generally vegan-friendly. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is commonly sourced from lanolin from sheep’s wool, although vegan versions made from lichen are also available. Both forms help support healthy vitamin D levels, but vitamin D3 is often considered the more bioavailable form.
Are mushroom supplements vegan?
Most mushroom supplements are vegan, especially those made from whole mushrooms without animal-derived ingredients or fillers. However, it is still worth checking the capsule ingredients and manufacturing information, as some supplements may contain gelatin capsules or non-vegan additives.
