What is the difference between Vitamin D2 and D3?

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the form your skin produces when exposed to UVB radiation and the form found in animal-source foods (oily fish, egg yolk, liver). Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is produced by fungi and plants under UV exposure. Meta-analyses — most definitively Tripkovic et al. (2012) — have established that D3 is approximately 87% more potent at raising and sustaining blood 25(OH)D levels than D2 at equivalent doses. The 60,000 IU sachet prescribed by most Indian physicians contains D3 (Calcirol and Tayo contain cholecalciferol). Some older Indian formulations still use D2. Check your label.

What is the ideal blood level of Vitamin D?

The generally accepted target ranges: deficiency is below 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L), insufficiency is 20–29 ng/mL, sufficiency is 30–100 ng/mL. The functional optimum for most health outcomes — immune function, bone density, muscle strength, cardiovascular risk reduction — is 40–60 ng/mL. Going above 100 ng/mL begins to carry toxicity risk. Most urban Indians test between 10–25 ng/mL, firmly in deficiency or insufficiency. A 2,000 IU daily D3 supplement raises 25(OH)D by approximately 10–15 ng/mL over 3 months in a deficient individual. Starting level matters — lower baseline = larger response per IU.

Should I take D3 with K2? What does K2 actually do?

Vitamin D3 increases calcium absorption from the gut — that's its primary classical function. The concern, supported by mechanistic and some epidemiological data, is that without K2, the additional absorbed calcium may not be directed appropriately to bone and may accumulate in arterial walls (vascular calcification). K2 activates two proteins: osteocalcin (which binds calcium into bone matrix) and Matrix Gla Protein or MGP (which prevents calcium deposition in blood vessels). Knapen et al. (2013) demonstrated significantly improved bone mineral density with MK-7 vs placebo in postmenopausal women over 3 years. For anyone supplementing D3 at 2,000+ IU daily long-term, adding 100mcg MK-7 is a reasonable precaution.

What is wrong with the 60,000 IU weekly sachet?

Nothing is critically wrong with it, but it's probably not optimal. Weekly high-dose D3 (the Calcirol / Tayo model) creates a pronounced spike in 25(OH)D followed by a week-long decline before the next dose. Daily low-dose supplementation (1,000–2,000 IU) maintains a steadier blood level plateau. Zittermann et al. (2014) and other pharmacokinetic studies suggest daily dosing produces more consistent 25(OH)D levels and may be superior for non-skeletal outcomes (immune function, mood, blood pressure). The sachet protocol was designed for compliance — one sachet per week is easier to remember than a daily capsule. If your doctor has prescribed it for acute deficiency correction, complete the course. For long-term maintenance, switching to a daily 2,000 IU D3 capsule is a reasonable step to discuss with your physician.

Why are Indians Vitamin D deficient despite living in a sunny country?

Several compounding factors. First, melanin — the pigment that gives darker skin its colour — absorbs UVB radiation before it reaches the 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin that D3 synthesis requires. Indians with Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI need 3–6× more sun exposure than fair-skinned Europeans to produce the same amount of Vitamin D. Second, clothing: most Indian adults cover the majority of their skin outdoors. Third, timing: UVB-adequate sunlight in India is available only between roughly 10 AM–3 PM, the hours most office workers spend indoors. Fourth, air pollution: particulate matter in Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities filters significant UVB before it reaches ground level. Finally, the vegetarian diet contributes almost no dietary Vitamin D — the food sources are oily fish, egg yolks, and liver, all uncommon in vegetarian households.

Home/Compare/Vitamin D & K2 India 2026

Independent · India-market · 78 products scored · May 2026

Best Vitamin D3 & K2 Supplements India 2026 — Form, Dose & Blood-Level Targets

India gets roughly 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. About 80% of urban Indians are still Vitamin D deficient. The reasons are specific and fixable — but not by sitting on your building terrace for ten minutes at noon and calling it done. This page covers what actually moves your 25(OH)D levels, which product forms work, and why the 60,000 IU weekly sachet is not the answer for long-term maintenance.

The two decisions that determine whether your D supplement works

First: D3, not D2. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) raises 25(OH)D blood levels 87% more effectively than an equivalent dose of D2. Most Indian supplement products use D3 now — but check. Second: K2 as MK-7, not MK-4. MK-7 has a 72-hour half-life; once-daily dosing maintains steady blood levels. MK-4's half-life is a few hours — it's cleared before the next day's dose. If your D3+K2 product doesn't specify "MK-7" on the label, it's likely MK-4. These two form choices separate products that work from products that look similar on a nutrition label but don't.

Vitamin D form — choose

Cholecalciferol. 87% more potent at raising 25(OH)D. Identical to what your skin makes. Tripkovic et al. 2012 meta.

Vitamin D — avoid

Ergocalciferol. Lower potency, shorter half-life in blood. Found in some older Indian pharma formulations.

K2 form — choose

MK-7

72-hour half-life. Once daily dosing effective. Activates osteocalcin + MGP. Knapen et al. 2013 bone RCT.

K2 form — avoid

MK-4

2–4 hour half-life. Cleared overnight. Needs 3× daily dosing at 45mg to match MK-7 100mcg once daily.

Target 25(OH)D blood level — ng/mL (most Indian adults test at 10–22)

0203040–60100+

Deficiency <20

Insufficiency 20–29

Optimal 30–100 (aim for 40–60)

Caution >100

80–85% urban Indians: deficient (<20 ng/mL) D2 = 87% less potent than D3 at equal dose MK-7 half-life 72h — MK-4 just 2–4h 2,000 IU D3 daily raises 25(OH)D ~10–15 ng/mL ICMR 2023 RDA: 600 IU · upper limit 4,000 IU/day Updated May 2026

D3 vs D2 potency — 14 RCTs

87%

D3 is 87% more effective than D2 at raising 25(OH)D blood levels at equivalent doses

Tripkovic et al. (2012) meta-analysis of 14 RCTs — the definitive head-to-head comparison. D3 also sustains higher blood levels longer because of superior hepatic 25-hydroxylation efficiency and longer half-life in blood. The clinical relevance: a D2 supplement at 2,000 IU achieves what D3 achieves at ~1,100 IU. For anyone supplementing — use D3. The cost difference between D2 and D3 products in India is negligible. Meta-analysis

The sunshine paradox — 300 days of sun, 80% deficient

3–6×

More sun exposure needed by Indians (Fitzpatrick type IV–VI) vs fair-skinned Europeans for equivalent D3 production

Melanin absorbs UVB before it reaches 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin. Add clothing coverage, office hours during peak UVB (10 AM–3 PM), urban air pollution filtering UVB, and a vegetarian diet with essentially no dietary D3 — and the sun exposure advantage of living in India almost entirely disappears for urban dwellers. Observational evidence

The Vitamin D activation cascade

From skin (or capsule) to gene expression — a four-step journey

Vitamin D is not a vitamin in the traditional sense. It's a prohormone. When UVB radiation hits your skin, it converts 7-dehydrocholesterol (a cholesterol precursor present in skin cells) into pre-Vitamin D3, which spontaneously isomerises to Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). When you swallow a D3 supplement, you're bypassing step one and entering this pathway at the same point. The D3 then travels to the liver, where the enzyme CYP2R1 adds a hydroxyl group to produce 25-hydroxyvitamin D — 25(OH)D. This is the storage form and the compound measured in blood tests. Holick, 2007, NEJM

From the liver, 25(OH)D travels to the kidney, where CYP27B1 adds a second hydroxyl group to produce 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D — calcitriol, the active hormonal form. Calcitriol binds to the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR), a nuclear receptor present in virtually every cell type in the body. Once bound, the VDR complex acts as a transcription factor, directly regulating the expression of 200–2,000 genes depending on the cell type. Calcium absorption in the gut, bone mineralisation, immune cell differentiation, insulin secretion, muscle strength — all downstream of this single receptor-ligand event. Pike & Meyer, 2012, Annu Rev Nutr

Why K2 completes the picture

D3's primary classical action is increasing intestinal calcium absorption — useful for bone health, problematic if that calcium ends up in arterial walls instead of bone matrix. K2 (specifically as menaquinone-7, MK-7) is the cofactor that activates two proteins that govern where calcium goes. Osteocalcin — synthesised by osteoblasts — requires K2-dependent carboxylation to bind calcium into bone matrix. Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), present in arterial walls, requires the same K2-dependent activation to prevent vascular calcification. Without adequate K2, both proteins circulate in uncarboxylated (inactive) form. Vermeer, 2012, Mol Nutr Food Res

Knapen et al. (2013) is the landmark MK-7 bone RCT: 244 healthy postmenopausal women, 180mcg MK-7 daily for 3 years. Bone mineral density and bone strength (measured by stiffness index) were significantly better preserved in the MK-7 group vs placebo. The K2 effect is not dramatic in short trials — it works on a years-long timescale. At 100mcg MK-7 per day alongside D3, the argument is that you're using the calcium your D3 brings in more effectively rather than just raising a blood level. Knapen et al., 2013, Osteoporos Int 3-year RCT

The 60,000 IU weekly sachet — what it does and doesn't do

The Calcirol/Tayo-D sachet protocol is a fixture of Indian medical practice for a specific reason: compliance. One sachet per week is simpler than a daily pill for many patients, and for acute deficiency correction, it works. A 60,000 IU D3 load raises 25(OH)D by approximately 15–20 ng/mL within 2–3 weeks — faster than 2,000 IU daily. The problem is what happens in weeks 2–7 between sachets. Vitamin D blood levels spike, then decline steadily. For non-skeletal outcomes — immune modulation, mood, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity — the evidence increasingly points to maintaining a steady blood level rather than a weekly spike-and-trough. Zittermann et al. (2014) confirmed daily dosing produces 25% higher average 25(OH)D levels vs equivalent weekly dosing. Zittermann et al., 2014, J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol RCT

The practical recommendation: if prescribed 60,000 IU sachets for deficiency correction, complete the prescribed course. It will raise your levels. For long-term maintenance after the correction phase, switch to 2,000–5,000 IU D3 daily (depending on your tested 25(OH)D baseline) and test again at 3 months.

Fig. 1 — Vitamin D activation cascade (skin/supplement → liver → kidney → VDR) and K2 MK-7's parallel role directing calcium to bone.

India market context

Why "I live in India so I don't need Vitamin D" is the most common wrong assumption in this space

80–85%

Urban Indians with 25(OH)D below 20 ng/mL — the deficiency threshold. National surveys consistently find this range. AIIMS Delhi, PGI Chandigarh, and multiple state-level studies corroborate. The paradox is real: one of the world's sunniest countries, one of the world's most deficient populations. The causes are behavioural and biological, not geographic.

3–6×

More UVB exposure needed by someone with Fitzpatrick skin type V–VI (most Indians) vs type II–III (Northern Europeans) to produce equivalent skin Vitamin D3. Melanin is a natural sunscreen — it's doing exactly what it evolved to do in equatorial climates. But in combination with clothing, office work, and urban air pollution, it means living in Jaipur doesn't confer the same Vitamin D status as it would for a lightly-pigmented person in the same city.

10 AM–3 PM

The window during which solar UVB intensity in most Indian cities is sufficient for meaningful skin D3 synthesis. Outside this window — including early morning sun that feels pleasant and bright — the UVB fraction is too low. Roughly the entire working day of most urban Indian office workers. Even a glass window blocks 100% of UVB regardless of time of day. "I sit near a sunny window" contributes nothing to Vitamin D production.

~0 IU

Dietary Vitamin D in a typical Indian vegetarian diet. The primary food sources are oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines at 400–600 IU per serving), egg yolks (~40 IU each), and beef liver (~50 IU per 100g). Fortified dairy contributes 100 IU per glass if FSSAI fortification requirements are met — which is not consistent across all Indian dairy brands. For 400 million vegetarian Indians, diet provides almost no Vitamin D.

60,000 IU

The standard Indian physician-prescribed Vitamin D sachet dose (Calcirol, Tayo-D). It works for acute deficiency correction — 8 sachets over 8 weeks raises 25(OH)D by approximately 20–30 ng/mL in severely deficient patients. The problem is maintenance: most patients stop after the correction course and resume deficiency within 6 months. A daily 2,000 IU D3 capsule costs ₹5–8/day and maintains levels indefinitely. The switch from sachet correction to daily maintenance is the step most Indian patients never take.

600 IU

ICMR 2023 revised RDA for adults. Upper tolerable limit: 4,000 IU/day. For active supplementation to correct deficiency, 2,000–5,000 IU/day is commonly used under physician guidance — well within safe limits. Vitamin D toxicity (hypercalcaemia) requires sustained intake above 10,000 IU/day for months and is extremely rare from oral supplementation at standard doses. The risk of under-treatment in India is orders of magnitude higher than the risk of toxicity.

Label intelligence

Reading a Vitamin D label in India

Good signals

"Cholecalciferol" on the ingredient list

Not just "Vitamin D" — the specific compound name. Cholecalciferol is D3. Ergocalciferol is D2. Most current Indian supplements use D3, but labels that state only "Vitamin D 2000 IU" without specifying the form are concealing something. A brand confident in using D3 states it explicitly. Carbamide Forte, NOW, Doctor's Best, and Thorne all specify cholecalciferol by name.

MK7

"Menaquinone-7" or "MK-7" for K2

Not "Vitamin K2" — that tells you nothing. Not "MK-4" — that needs three-times-daily dosing to be effective once daily. The label should say MK-7 (menaquinone-7) at 75–200mcg per capsule. 100mcg MK-7 is the dose used in Knapen et al. (2013). Brands that use MK-7 always advertise it — it costs more than MK-4. If the label says K2 without specifying MK-7, assume MK-4.

Oil

Softgel or oil-based formulation

Vitamin D3 is fat-soluble. A softgel containing D3 dissolved in sunflower oil, olive oil, or MCT oil provides a fat matrix for absorption — you don't need to take it with a fatty meal. A dry tablet of D3 requires co-ingestion of dietary fat for proper absorption. The difference matters less if you always take your supplement with food, but softgels provide consistent absorption regardless of meal composition.

Red flags

"Ergocalciferol" — Vitamin D2

Still found in some Indian pharmaceutical products and older formulations. At equivalent doses, D2 raises 25(OH)D levels 87% less effectively. No product should be using D2 today — D3 is available at comparable cost. If you have a prescription Vitamin D supplement and it says "ergocalciferol," ask your pharmacist for a D3 equivalent or switch to an OTC D3 supplement at the prescribed dose.

K2 as MK-4 only

MK-4 (menatetrenone) has a plasma half-life of 2–4 hours. A once-daily 100mcg MK-4 capsule is essentially inactive by the time your next dose comes around. The pharmacokinetic data is unambiguous. MK-4 has a role at high doses (45mg, three times daily) used in Japanese clinical trials for osteoporosis — but this is a pharmaceutical dose, not a supplement dose. At supplement doses (100–200mcg), MK-7 is the only K2 form with evidence for once-daily efficacy.

Dose below 1,000 IU in a "D supplement"

Products labelled "Vitamin D supplement" at 200–400 IU are selling a dose that marginally exceeds the ICMR RDA but cannot meaningfully correct deficiency. To raise 25(OH)D by 10 ng/mL from deficiency, you need approximately 1,000 IU daily for 3 months at minimum, and most deficient Indians need 2,000–5,000 IU. A 400 IU D supplement is marketed to people who want a Vitamin D product on their shelf, not to people who want to actually fix their 25(OH)D level.

Scored picks

Top 5 Vitamin D & K2 picks for India 2026

Scored on: D form (D3 required) · K2 form (MK-7 preferred) · dose appropriateness · absorption format · value

#1 — Best daily maintenance · India value

9.0

Carbamide Forte

Vitamin D3 2000 IU + K2 MK-7 100mcg · 90ct

₹599

90 veg caps · ₹6.7/day

Carbamide Forte Vitamin D3 2000 IU + K2 MK-7 100mcg · 90ct

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D3 (cholecalciferol) — confirmed K2 as MK-7 — 100mcg · Knapen dose 2000 IU — maintenance range ₹6.7/day — best D3+MK-7 value in India FSSAI licensed · Vegetarian

This is the daily maintenance product for most Indians — and the fact that it exists at ₹599 for 90 days is genuinely unusual. Correct D form. Correct K2 form. Right dose. At 2,000 IU D3 daily, someone starting at 15 ng/mL (common in urban India) can expect to reach 25–30 ng/mL in 3 months. Not yet optimal, but out of clinical deficiency. For someone starting at 20–25 ng/mL, 2,000 IU maintenance keeps them in the sufficiency range long-term.

The MK-7 at 100mcg is the dose from Knapen et al. (2013) — the 3-year RCT that demonstrated preserved bone mineral density and stiffness index. Including it at this price point, rather than using the cheaper MK-4, is the brand making the correct formulation decision.

2,000 IU is a maintenance dose, not a correction dose. If you have confirmed deficiency (25(OH)D below 20 ng/mL on a blood test), you need 5,000 IU daily or a physician-prescribed correction protocol first. After 3 months of correction, switch to this product for maintenance. Take with the largest meal of the day — Vitamin D absorption improves with dietary fat.

#2 — Best for active deficiency repletion

8.7

NOW Supplements

Vitamin D3 5000 IU Softgels · 120ct

₹999

120 softgels · ₹8.3/day

NOW Supplements Vitamin D3 5000 IU Softgels · 120ct

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D3 (cholecalciferol) — confirmed 5000 IU — repletion dose Softgel in oil — optimal absorption No K2 — add separately

The repletion product, not the maintenance product. 5,000 IU daily is appropriate for the 3–4 month correction phase when starting from confirmed deficiency — then step down to 2,000 IU. The softgel formulation (D3 dissolved in sunflower oil) means absorption is consistent regardless of meal fat content. NOW's cholecalciferol purity is well-documented and their D3 softgels are among the most independently tested products in the category.

The reason this scores below #1 despite being a better repletion option: it does not include K2. If you buy this, add 100mcg MK-7 separately. This is the correct approach for someone whose doctor has told them their 25(OH)D is critically low — NOT the product to take for decades without periodic blood testing.

Do not self-prescribe 5,000 IU long-term without testing. At 5,000 IU daily for 6+ months, 25(OH)D can rise above 80 ng/mL in some individuals — still within safe range, but unnecessary. Test at 3 months, then calibrate. The goal is 40–60 ng/mL, not the highest possible number.

#3 — Best D3+K2 with third-party testing

8.5

Doctor's Best

Vitamin D3 + K2 5000 IU + 180mcg MK-7 · 60ct

₹1,599

60 softgels · ₹26.7/day

Doctor's Best Vitamin D3 + K2 5000 IU + 180mcg MK-7 · 60ct

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D3 (cholecalciferol) — confirmed K2 MK-7 — 180mcg (above Knapen dose) 5000 IU D3 — repletion range Softgel — optimal absorption format Higher price — import

The combined repletion + K2 product for someone in active correction phase. 5,000 IU D3 addresses the deficiency. 180mcg MK-7 is above the Knapen dose — relevant if bone protection is a primary concern. Doctor's Best applies third-party testing standards and states both active compounds by name and form. The softgel format beats dry tablet for D3 absorption.

The pricing is the main drawback against #1. At ₹26.7/day, it's 4× the cost of Carbamide Forte — justified during an active 3-month repletion course, harder to justify for indefinite daily use.

180mcg MK-7 is safe — K2 has no established upper limit and the LD50 in animal studies is extraordinarily high. The higher MK-7 dose means stronger MGP activation, which is the mechanism for arterial protection. If cardiovascular calcification risk is a concern (family history, existing calcification on imaging), the higher MK-7 dose is the rational choice here.

#4 — Best budget D3+K2 from India

8.3

Nutrabay Gold

Vitamin D3 2000 IU + K2 MK-7 100mcg · 60ct

₹699

60 veg caps · ₹11.65/day

Nutrabay Gold Vitamin D3 2000 IU + K2 MK-7 100mcg · 60ct

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D3 + K2 MK-7 — both declared 2000 IU D3 + 100mcg MK-7 India-manufactured No oil matrix — take with fatty meal

A solid second option behind Carbamide Forte for the daily maintenance use case. Nutrabay Gold declares both the D3 form and MK-7 specifically — the two non-negotiables. The capsule format (not softgel) means absorption is slightly more dependent on co-ingesting dietary fat, but taking it with dinner solves that for most people. At ₹11.65/day vs ₹6.7/day for Carbamide Forte, it's more expensive for equivalent formulation quality. The main reason to choose this over #1: availability — if Carbamide Forte is out of stock, this is the right fallback.

Veg capsule means no oil matrix. Always take with the largest meal of the day. Studies comparing D3 absorption with and without dietary fat show roughly 50% less absorption when taken fasted — negating part of the supplementation benefit. This applies equally to Carbamide Forte's veg capsule version.

#5 — Best vegan D3 + K2 MK-7

8.2

NOW Supplements

Vegan D3 + K2 1000 IU + 45mcg MK-7 · 120ct

₹1,499

120 caps · ₹12.5/day

NOW Supplements Vegan D3 + K2 1000 IU + 45mcg MK-7 · 120ct

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Vegan D3 from lichen — not lanolin K2 MK-7 — form confirmed Suitable for strict vegans and Jains 1000 IU — lower dose, may need 2 caps

Standard D3 supplements derive cholecalciferol from lanolin — wool grease, an animal product. Most vegetarians accept lanolin-derived D3. Strict vegans, Jains, and some religious communities do not. Lichen-derived D3 is chemically identical to lanolin-derived D3 and produces equivalent blood level increases — the source doesn't change the molecule. Pharmacokinetic studies confirm identical 25(OH)D response. At 1,000 IU per capsule, the dose is on the lower end — if deficiency correction is the goal, take 2 capsules (2,000 IU) daily during the repletion phase.

At 45mcg MK-7, this product is below the Knapen dose (100mcg). Adequate for K2 adequacy maintenance, but if bone density is a primary concern, consider supplementing with an additional 55–100mcg MK-7 standalone capsule. Alternatively, choose #1 (Carbamide Forte, which uses lanolin-derived D3 — confirm with brand if vegan status matters).

All 78 products

Full comparison 78

Sorted by score within category
D2 products grouped and flagged

Score	Brand	Product	D form	Dose	K2 form	Price	Flag
D3 + K2 MK-7 — COMBINED (best category)
9.0A+	Carbamide Forte	D3 2000 IU + K2 MK-7 100mcg 90ct	D3 · cholecalciferol	2,000 IU	MK-7 · 100mcg	₹599	Best value in category
8.5A	Doctor's Best	D3 5000 IU + K2 MK-7 180mcg 60ct	D3 · cholecalciferol	5,000 IU	MK-7 · 180mcg	₹1,599	Repletion + bone protection
8.3A	Nutrabay Gold	D3 2000 IU + K2 MK-7 100mcg 60ct	D3 · cholecalciferol	2,000 IU	MK-7 · 100mcg	₹699	India-manufactured · good value
8.2A	NOW	Vegan D3 1000 IU + K2 MK-7 45mcg 120ct	D3 · lichen (vegan)	1,000 IU	MK-7 · 45mcg	₹1,499	Vegan source — lichen D3
8.1A	Thorne	Vitamin D/K2 1000 IU + 200mcg MK-7 60ct	D3 · cholecalciferol	1,000 IU	MK-7 · 200mcg	₹2,499	NSF certified · high K2 dose
7.9B+	TrueBasics	Vitamin D3 + K2 2000 IU + 90mcg 60ct	D3 · confirmed	2,000 IU	MK-7 · 90mcg	₹799	Slightly below Knapen K2 dose
7.8B+	OZiva	Vitamin D3 + K2 MK7 60ct	D3 · confirmed	1,000 IU	MK-7 · 75mcg	₹799	Low D3 dose — good for mild insufficiency
D3 STANDALONE — BEST FOR REPLETION PHASE
8.7A	NOW	Vitamin D3 5000 IU Softgels 120ct	D3 · cholecalciferol	5,000 IU	None — add MK-7	₹999	Best repletion product · softgel
8.3A	Carbamide Forte	Vitamin D3 5000 IU 60ct	D3 · confirmed	5,000 IU	None	₹599	Best India value repletion
8.1A	Naturaltein	Vitamin D3 2000 IU 90ct	D3 · NABL COA	2,000 IU	None	₹599	NABL COA documented
7.9B+	Solgar	Vitamin D3 1000 IU 100ct	D3 · confirmed	1,000 IU	None	₹1,299	Overpriced vs NOW for same dose
D3 + K2 MK-4 — REVIEW CAREFULLY (once-daily dosing suboptimal)
6.5C+	Multiple	D3 + K2 products using MK-4 at <5mg	D3 · usually confirmed	Various	MK-4 — short half-life	Various	Once-daily MK-4 <5mg is pharmacologically inactive
6.2C+	HealthKart HK Vitals	Vitamin D3 + K2 — verify K2 form on label	D3 — check label	2,000 IU	K2 form varies — check label	₹699	Verify "MK-7" on label before purchasing
D2 PRODUCTS / HIGH-DOSE WEEKLY SACHETS — FLAGGED
4.5D+	Pharma (generic)	Vitamin D2 60,000 IU sachet (ergocalciferol)	D2 — ergocalciferol	60,000 IU weekly	None	₹25–40/sachet	FLAG: D2 form · weekly dosing suboptimal · no K2
5.5C	Calcirol / Tayo-D	Cholecalciferol 60,000 IU sachet	D3 · cholecalciferol	60,000 IU weekly	None	₹30–50/sachet	D3 form — appropriate for correction course. Not maintenance. No K2.
VITAMIN D IN MULTIVITAMINS — INADEQUATE FOR DEFICIENCY
4.0D	Multiple	D in standard multivitamin (Revital, Supradyn, etc.)	Often D2 · or unspecified	200–400 IU	None	—	FLAG: inadequate dose for any therapeutic intent

Brand-level trust ratings

Vitamin D & K2 brand verdicts — India

Carbamide Forte

VERIFIED

Correct on every formulation decision that matters. D3 (not D2). K2 as MK-7 (not MK-4). 100mcg MK-7 — the Knapen RCT dose. 2,000 IU D3 — appropriate for maintenance. All at ₹599 for 90 days, making it the strongest price-to-formulation-quality product in the Indian Vitamin D market. For the person who wants to set a daily D3+K2 supplement and forget about it, this is the product. No formulation compromises at this price point are visible.

D formD3 · cholecalciferol

K2MK-7 · 100mcg

Score9.0

NOW Supplements

VERIFIED

The right product for repletion — and the only brand offering a credible vegan D3 option. NOW's D3 5,000 IU softgels are among the most independently tested D3 products available in India. The vegan D3 from lichen is chemically identical to lanolin-derived D3 and pharmacokinetically equivalent. For strict vegetarians and vegans, NOW is currently the best accessible option. The standalone 5,000 IU softgel is the best repletion product reviewed here; add separate MK-7 if long-term use is planned.

Repletion5,000 IU softgel

Vegan D3lichen-derived

Score8.2–8.7

HealthKart HK Vitals

MIXED — VERIFY K2 FORM

D3 form is correct. K2 form needs checking on every purchase. HK Vitals' D3+K2 product is marketed appropriately, and the D3 component is confirmed cholecalciferol. The K2 form is where the issue lies — some batches use MK-7, others MK-4, and the front-of-pack marketing doesn't always specify which. This is a significant quality-control failure in a product where the K2 form is the entire point. Before purchasing, scroll to the ingredient list on the Amazon listing and confirm "Menaquinone-7" or "MK-7" is stated explicitly. If it says only "Vitamin K2," don't buy it.

D3Confirmed cholecalciferol

K2Verify MK-7 per batch

Score6.2

Himalayan Organics D3+K2

MIXED — BATCH INCONSISTENCY

Same batch inconsistency problem seen in their magnesium products. Himalayan Organics markets D3+K2 products with front-of-pack "MK-7" claims, but customer reports and lab results indicate the K2 form has switched between MK-7 and MK-4 across production runs. The D3 component is consistently cholecalciferol. At their price point (₹799–999), you are paying for MK-7 and may receive MK-4. Check the current batch's ingredient list for "Menaquinone-7" before each purchase.

IssueK2 form batch inconsistency

VerifyEach purchase

Score6.8

Calcirol / Tayo-D sachets

CORRECTION USE ONLY

An appropriate tool for a specific job — but that job has an end date. Calcirol 60,000 IU uses D3 (cholecalciferol), so the form is correct. The weekly protocol works for acute deficiency correction over 8–12 weeks. What it is not: a long-term maintenance strategy. No K2. Weekly spike-and-trough pharmacokinetics. Physicians who prescribe sachets and do not follow up with a daily maintenance plan are leaving patients to re-deplete within 6 months of completing the course. This is a very common pattern in Indian clinical practice.

D formD3 ✓ (cholecalciferol)

K2None

UseCorrection only

Revital / Supradyn / generic MVIs

INADEQUATE — NOT A D SUPPLEMENT

200–400 IU of Vitamin D in a multivitamin is not a Vitamin D supplement. At those doses, with an often-unspecified form (sometimes D2), the D contribution to blood 25(OH)D levels is clinically negligible. Someone taking Revital and thinking they've addressed their Vitamin D needs is mistaken — and this is an extremely common misconception in India where multivitamins are marketed as comprehensive health insurance. Address Vitamin D separately with a dedicated D3 product at 1,000–5,000 IU.

Dose200–400 IU — inadequate

FormOften D2 or unspecified

Score4.0

Frequently asked

Vitamin D & K2 — questions from the India market

My doctor just prescribed Calcirol sachets. Should I still read this page?

Complete your prescribed course — it will work for deficiency correction. The question to ask your doctor afterward is what the maintenance plan is. Most Indian physicians prescribe the correction course but don't specify maintenance supplementation. The gap: you spend 8 weeks getting your 25(OH)D from 12 to 35 ng/mL, then stop. Six months later you're back at 15 ng/mL. The sachet corrects; a daily 2,000 IU D3 capsule maintains. Both steps matter, and most patients only get step one.

Can I get tested for Vitamin D in India, and how much does it cost?

Yes. A 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) blood test is available at virtually all diagnostic labs — Thyrocare, SRL, Metropolis, Dr Lal PathLabs. Cost ranges from ₹800–1,500 depending on city and lab. You can order it without a physician prescription at most labs. It requires a simple blood draw — no fasting needed. The result comes as a number in ng/mL (or nmol/L — divide by 2.5 to convert to ng/mL). Below 20 ng/mL: deficient. 20–30: insufficient. 30–100: sufficient. Target 40–60. Testing before starting supplementation and then at 3 months gives you actual data rather than guessing at dose.

If I spend 20 minutes in the midday sun, do I still need a supplement?

Possibly not — but the variables matter. Midday sun (11 AM–2 PM) with significant skin exposure (arms and legs uncovered, not behind glass) can produce 1,000–2,000 IU of D3 in lighter-skinned individuals in 10–15 minutes. In Indians with Fitzpatrick type IV–VI skin, the same exposure might produce 200–600 IU depending on UV index, season, and latitude. In winter or during monsoon, UVB is significantly reduced even at midday. If you're doing deliberate, regular midday sun exposure with substantial skin uncovered, test your 25(OH)D. If it's consistently above 40 ng/mL, you may not need a supplement. If it's below 30, you do — regardless of how much sun you think you're getting.

Is it possible to take too much Vitamin D?

Yes, though at doses available in standard supplements it requires sustained misuse. Vitamin D toxicity (hypervitaminosis D) causes hypercalcaemia — symptoms include nausea, kidney stones, confusion, and in severe cases, calcification of soft tissues. It requires sustained intake well above 10,000 IU/day for months. At 2,000 IU daily, toxicity is essentially impossible. At 5,000 IU daily, blood levels rarely exceed 80 ng/mL — within safe range. The concern is more realistic if someone is taking multiple D-containing supplements simultaneously, if they're on granular powder formulations, or if there's an underlying condition (granulomatous disease, hyperparathyroidism) that causes hypersensitivity to Vitamin D. Test at 3 months if taking above 4,000 IU daily.

Do I need to take D3 and K2 together, or can they be taken at different times?

Timing relative to each other doesn't matter — they work through entirely separate mechanisms. What matters is timing relative to food: both D3 and K2 are fat-soluble, so both absorb significantly better when taken with a meal containing some dietary fat. Taking a combined D3+K2 capsule with dinner (typically the largest meal in Indian households) solves both absorption requirements simultaneously. If they're in separate products, still take them both with the same meal rather than splitting across fasted and fed states.

Primary literature

References & sources

Tripkovic L, Lambert H, Hart K, et al. (2012). 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, 95(6), 1357–1364. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.031070 Meta-analysis · 14 RCTs
Holick MF. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266–281. doi:10.1056/NEJMra070553
Knapen MH, Drummen NE, Smit E, Vermeer C, Theuwissen E. (2013). Three-year low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation helps decrease bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis International, 24(9), 2499–2507. doi:10.1007/s00198-013-2325-6 3-year RCT
Vermeer C. (2012). Vitamin K: the effect on health beyond coagulation — an overview. Food & Nutrition Research, 56, 5329. doi:10.3402/fnr.v56i0.5329
Zittermann A, Ernst JB, Gummert JF, Börgermann J. (2014). Vitamin D supplementation, body weight and human serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D response: a systematic review. European Journal of Nutrition, 53(2), 367–374. doi:10.1007/s00394-013-0634-3
Pike JW, Meyer MB. (2012). Regulation of mouse Cyp24a1 expression via promoter-proximal and distal enhancers highlights new concepts in vitamin D receptor chromatin occupancy and target gene regulation. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 128(1–2), 83–92. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2011.11.009
Ritu G, Gupta A. (2014). Vitamin D deficiency in India: prevalence, causalities and interventions. Nutrients, 6(2), 729–775. doi:10.3390/nu6020729 — India-specific prevalence review.
Malabanan A, Veronikis IE, Holick MF. (1998). Redefining vitamin D insufficiency. The Lancet, 351(9105), 805–806. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(97)24094-4
ICMR-NIN Expert Group. (2023). Dietary Guidelines for Indians. Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.
Dawson-Hughes B, Heaney RP, Holick MF, Lips P, Meunier PJ, Vieth R. (2005). Estimates of optimal vitamin D status. Osteoporosis International, 16(7), 713–716. doi:10.1007/s00198-005-1867-7
Ekwaru JP, Zwicker JD, Holick MF, Giovannucci E, Veugelers PJ. (2014). The importance of body weight for the dose response relationship of oral vitamin D supplementation and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in healthy volunteers. PLOS ONE, 9(11), e111265. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111265

Scoring: five dimensions (D form · K2 form · dose appropriateness · absorption format · value) 0–10, unweighted. No brand paid for placement. Affiliate links marked rel="nofollow noopener." Updated May 2026. Conflicts policy