Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (25mcg) Softgels - 250 Count vs Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D3, 120 Capsules
Side-by-side comparison of scores, ingredients, prices and real customer feedback for Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (25mcg) Softgels - 250 Count and Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D3, 120 Capsules.
Last verified: 07 Apr 2026 · Based on 105 reviews
Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (25mcg) Softgels - 250 Count scores 83.0/100 vs Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D3, 120 Capsules at 81.0/100. Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (25mcg) Softgels - 250 Count wins on ingredient quality, side effects, certifications. Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D3, 120 Capsules is stronger on effectiveness and value for money.
Which is better: Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (... or Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D3, 12...?
Solgar wins on ingredient quality and price (£11.16 vs £12.96), scoring 83 to Nutricost's 81. But Nutricost's 5000 IU D3 plus MK-7 K2 makes it better for anyone correcting a deficiency or focused on bone health. Pick Solgar if you just need a clean daily maintenance dose.
— AIScored Editorial Team
How Do the Scores Compare?
Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (...
Solgar
|
Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D3, 12...
Nutricost
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 83.0 | 81.0 |
| Effectiveness | 81.0/100 |
82.0/100
Best
|
| Ingredient Quality |
89.0/100
Best
|
84.0/100 |
| Value for Money | 86.0/100 |
91.0/100
Best
|
| Side Effects |
92.0/100
Best
|
87.0/100 |
| Certifications |
68.0/100
Best
|
42.0/100 |
| Best Price |
£11.16
Amazon UK →
Cheapest
|
£12.96 iHerb → |
| Price per Serving | £0.04 250 servings | N/A |
| Form | Softgels | None |
| Dose | 1000 IU (25mcg) Vitamin D3 | None |
| Third-Party Tested | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Reviews Analysed | 56 | 49 |
Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (25mcg...
Pros
- ✓Small, easy-to-swallow softgels with no taste or odour — universally noted across reviews
- ✓Exceptionally clean formulation: only safflower oil and gelatin shell, no magnesium stearate or silicon dioxide
- ✓250-count bottle offers excellent long-term value — up to ~8 months supply at 1/day
- ✓Reviewers consistently report improved energy, mood, and immunity — consistent with D3 research evidence
Cons
- ✗1000 IU is a maintenance dose only — insufficient to correct deficiency; those with low D levels typically need 2000–5000 IU under guidance
- ✗Not third-party tested (e.g. NSF, Informed Sport) — limits verification for athletes or those requiring assay confirmation
- ✗Contains bovine gelatin — not suitable for vegans, vegetarians, or some religious dietary requirements (halal concerns raised by reviewers)
- ✗Safflower oil carrier is functional but not as optimal as olive oil or MCT oil for fat-soluble vitamin absorption
Best For
Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D3, 120 Capsules
Pros
- ✓K2 is supplied as MK-7 (menaquinone-7) — the longer-acting form with significantly better bioavailability than the cheaper MK-4 used in many budget products
- ✓5000 IU D3 is a genuinely effective dose for correcting deficiency, not the token 400–1000 IU found in most multivitamins
- ✓Softgel format in sunflower oil delivers fat-soluble vitamins in their ideal absorption medium
- ✓120 softgels at four months' supply represents strong value — reviewers repeatedly flag the price-to-quantity ratio as a key reason to buy
Cons
- ✗No verified third-party batch testing — the product specs confirm third_party_tested is false, despite some label copy referencing lab testing
- ✗Gelatin softgel is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians
- ✗5000 IU daily is a high-dose protocol; without blood monitoring it is easy to overshoot optimal levels long-term
- ✗K2 at 100 mcg is workable but some clinical protocols use 180–200 mcg alongside high-dose D3
Best For
What does the data say about Solgar Vitamin D3 1000... vs Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D...?
Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU softgels deliver a modest 25mcg of vitamin D3 in a tiny capsule with just safflower oil and gelatin. Nutricost packs 5000 IU of D3 plus K2 as MK-7 into each sunflower oil softgel. The doses differ sharply. Solgar offers 250 capsules for £11.16 while Nutricost gives 120 for £12.96. Solgar scores 83/100 overall against Nutricost's 81/100 yet loses on effectiveness where the combo hits 82/100 to Solgar's 81/100. Ingredient quality favours Solgar at 89/100 over 84/100.
Pick Solgar if you simply need steady daily support in low-sunlight Britain or an indoor job. Its clean list without magnesium stearate suits people who hate extra fillers and want eight months of supply from one bottle. Choose Nutricost instead when blood tests show low levels or you are over 40 and worry about calcium heading to arteries rather than bones. The higher dose and added K2 make it practical for fixing shortfalls or combining two supplements into one. Value scores back this up with Nutricost at 91/100 versus Solgar's 86/100.
Both softgels swallow easily with no flavour at all. Solgar edges ahead for anyone avoiding animal products less strictly since its minimal recipe feels gentler. Nutricost's gelatin rules it out for vegans. Neither carries third-party test marks so athletes may need to look elsewhere for verified batches.
Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU is a well-regarded maintenance-dose supplement in a 250-count softgel format, praised by reviewers for its small capsule size, easy swallowability, and clean formulation.
What are the key differences?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (25mcg) Softgels - 250 Count or Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D3, 120 Capsules? ▼
Is Solgar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (25mcg) Softgels - 250 Count worth the price compared to Vitamin K2 + Vitamin D3, 120 Capsules? ▼
Which has fewer side effects? ▼
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What the Data Says
Why do 97% of UK vitamin D supplements lack third-party certification?
Only 1 out of 35 vitamin D products we scored has independent certification. That's 97% without any third-party verification of purity, potency, or label accuracy.
This is worse than most supplement categories. The reason is simple: UK law doesn't require it, and testing costs money. Most vitamin D brands sell on price alone, especially in the D3-only space where the raw ingredient is cheap. Certification adds cost that budget brands won't absorb.
What does this mean for you? Without third-party testing, you're trusting the manufacturer's label claims. A 2021 study in Nutrients found that vitamin D supplements varied from 52% to 135% of their labelled dose. That's a problem if you're relying on a specific daily intake.
Among the 35 products we scored, the top performers are all from brands with strong manufacturing track records: NOW Foods D3 5000 IU and Thorne Vitamin D + K2 both score 87/100 overall. Thorne holds the highest certification score in the category at 85/100. If independent testing matters to you, that's the product to look at.
Do you need vitamin K2 with high-dose vitamin D?
Probably yes at high doses, and our data backs the pairing. Thorne Vitamin D + K2 Liquid is the only D3+K2 combo product in our 35-product database that scores 87/100 overall, matching the top-ranked D3-only options from NOW Foods. It also holds the highest certification score in the category at 85/100.
Here's the science behind it. Vitamin D increases calcium absorption from food. Vitamin K2 activates proteins that direct that calcium into bones and teeth, keeping it out of your arteries and soft tissue. At standard doses (1000-2000 IU daily), most people get enough K2 from diet to handle the extra calcium. At 4000-5000 IU daily, the calcium load increases enough that K2 becomes a more serious consideration.
The Endocrine Society doesn't yet include K2 in its vitamin D guidelines. But a growing body of research, including a 2019 meta-analysis in International Journal of Molecular Sciences, shows the D3+K2 combination improves bone mineral density more than D3 alone.
If you eat K2-rich foods regularly (natto, hard cheese, egg yolks, chicken liver), a standalone D3 product like NOW Foods D3 5000 IU 360 Softgels (87/100) is a solid choice. If your diet is low in K2, or you're taking 4000+ IU of D3 daily, Thorne D + K2 covers both bases in one product.
Disclaimer: AIScored provides data-driven comparisons based on publicly available reviews. This is not medical advice. Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
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