Vegan
Vegan supplements without animal ingredients: vitamin B12, vitamin D3 from lichen, algae omega-3, iodine and plant-based multivitamins in capsules, drops and powders. Below we explain which forms and doses matter.Read more →
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Vegan supplements: sources, forms and what to check on the label
What makes a supplement vegan
A vegan supplement contains no animal ingredients, not in the nutrient and not in anything around it. Three details decide this. The capsule: gelatin is made from animal collagen, so vegan capsules use HPMC, a shell made from plant cellulose. The source of vitamin D3: most D3 is made from lanolin, the wax in sheep's wool, while vegan D3 is grown on lichen. And omega-3: instead of fish oil, the oil comes from algae. Labels rarely spell this out, which is why "suitable for vegetarians" does not mean vegan. You will also find these products through our diet and lifestyle filters.
The nutrients a plant-based diet rarely covers
NHS guidance names vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, selenium and calcium as the nutrients that are harder to get from a vegan diet. In practice the shortlist looks like this:
- Vitamin B12: unfortified plant foods contain none. Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Vitamin D: from October to March, UK sunlight is too weak for your skin to make it, whatever you eat. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.
- Iodine: in the UK diet it comes mainly from dairy and fish. Seaweed contains iodine, but the amount swings from too little to far too much.
- EPA and DHA: flax and chia deliver ALA only, and the body converts little of it. Algae oil supplies EPA and DHA directly.
- Iron and zinc: present in plants, but absorbed less easily. Vitamin C in the same meal improves iron absorption.
How we choose the vegan products we stock
Vegan is a filter, not a quality mark, so we still judge every product on three things: the form of the nutrient, the dose, and whether the combination makes sense. We prefer D3 from lichen over D2, because D3 raises blood levels more effectively and holds them longer. We ask brands to confirm the source of every D3 and every capsule shell, our compliance team checks each label before it goes live, and we buy directly from the brands with no intermediaries. We test products ourselves and independent labs spot-check batches. For the full reasoning, read how we select brands and products.
Forms, and who each one suits
Tablets and capsules are the simplest route for a daily B12 or a multivitamin. Drops and sprays suit anyone who dislikes swallowing pills, and they let you adjust the dose in small steps. Fat-soluble nutrients do best in an oil base, so vitamin D3 in drops is easy to take with a meal that contains some fat.
Softgels are the usual format for algae omega-3, and vegan softgels use plant starch or seaweed extract instead of gelatin. Powders make sense where doses run into grams: protein, creatine and electrolytes.
Honest expectations
Not every vegan needs a shelf of bottles. B12 is the one nutrient nearly everyone on a plant-based diet has to supplement. The rest depends on your meals, your blood results and the season. Levels of B12 and vitamin D move slowly, so give a new routine two to three months and a repeat blood test before you judge it. A supplement fills a specific gap; it works alongside a varied plate of legumes, grains, nuts and greens.
Frequently asked questions
Vegan supplements are food supplements made without any animal-derived ingredient, from the nutrient itself to the capsule shell, coating and colouring. That rules out gelatin capsules, fish oil, lanolin vitamin D3, shellac, carmine and lactose as a filler. In their place you find HPMC capsules made from plant cellulose, algae oil and D3 grown on lichen. People buy them for ethical reasons, but also because they are dairy-free and gelatin-free.
