India gets its first plant-based Vitamin D3. Here's why that matters beyond veganism

The FSSAI has approved India's first plant-sourced vitamin D3 for supplements, fortified foods and nutraceuticals. The move widens options for vegetarian and vegan consumers as vitamin D deficiency remains common.

In Short

• One in five Indians reportedly suffers from vitamin D deficiency nationwide
• Conventional Vitamin D3 usually comes from lanolin extracted from sheep's wool
• Plant-derived cholecalciferol matches standard Vitamin D3 but avoids animal raw materials

The first plant-source Vitamin D3 for use in health supplements, fortified foods and nutraceuticals has been launched in India, in what is being seen as a significant step in expanding nutrition choices.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has cleared Fermenta Biotech's Vitadee, a plant-derived Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), allowing manufacturers to use it in dietary supplements as well as fortified food and beverage products.

For consumers, this may not immediately change the vitamin D tablet sitting in their medicine cabinet – but it does widen the choices available in a country where vitamin D deficiency continues to be common despite abundant sunshine, and where vegetarian and vegan lifestyles are increasingly influencing food preferences.

A report released last year, Roadmap to Address Vitamin D Deficiency in India, published by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and the Anvka Foundation had shown that one in five Indians suffers from the deficiency of this crucial micronutrient.

MORE CHOICE, SAME VITAMIN

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, muscles and immunity. While our skin makes it when exposed to sunlight, long working hours indoors, air pollution, sunscreen use and changing lifestyles mean many Indians do not produce enough of it naturally.

Doctors often recommend supplements when clinically indicated.

The new approval is significant because it makes a plant-source version of Vitamin D3 available for large-scale food fortification and nutritional products in India.

Most people are unaware that the Vitamin D3 found in conventional supplements is usually animal-derived. As neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar explains, the vast majority of Vitamin D3 sold globally is produced from lanolin, a natural wax extracted from sheep's wool.

The manufacturing process begins with lanolin, from which a compound called 7-dehydrocholesterol is isolated. This compound is then exposed to ultraviolet light to produce cholecalciferol, the same Vitamin D3 molecule that is present in conventional supplements.

Importantly, Dr Kumar points out that this does not make traditional Vitamin D3 inferior or unsafe. Lanolin-derived Vitamin D3 has been used safely and effectively for decades, and the sheep are not harmed for the purpose of making the vitamin.

The difference is not in how well the vitamin works inside the body. It lies in where it comes from.

Plant-derived Vitamin D3 is produced without using animal-based raw materials. Globally, manufacturers have relied on sources such as lichen, while newer technologies use fermentation processes to create the same Vitamin D3 molecule. The end product remains cholecalciferol, but its origin aligns better with vegetarian, vegan and sustainability preferences.

WHY APPROVAL MATTERS

Until now, consumers looking for a completely plant-based Vitamin D3 in India had relatively limited options. The latest regulatory approval could make such products more widely available, not just as supplements but also through fortified staples and packaged foods.

This is particularly relevant because vitamin D deficiency remains widespread in India. Fortification has increasingly been viewed as one way to improve nutrient intake across populations without requiring people to make major dietary changes.

Doctors, however, say consumers should not get carried away by the source alone.

"When selecting a vitamin D supplement, it is important to focus on quality, safety, and suitability rather than promotional claims. Choosing products from reputed manufacturers that follow established quality standards and clearly mention the dosage and ingredients can help ensure reliability," says Dr Prabhat Kumar, senior consultant, internal medicine with Kailash Hospital & Neuro Institute.

Experts also caution against assuming everyone needs supplementation. Whether a person requires vitamin D, and in what dose, depends on factors such as age, diet, lifestyle, existing medical conditions and, in some cases, blood test results.

For most people, the bigger question is not whether the vitamin D comes from sheep's wool or plants, but whether they actually need supplementation in the first place.

That said, for consumers who consciously avoid animal-derived ingredients, the arrival of a plant-sourced vitamin D3 offers something they have long lacked; a comparable alternative without compromising on the form of the vitamin.

It also opens the door for Indian manufacturers to incorporate plant-based Vitamin D3 into everyday foods, potentially making the nutrient more accessible while giving consumers another informed choice.

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