Do Vitamin D Sprays Work? What Studies Show vs Pills

Studies that put a spray head to head with capsules or drops mostly found the same result: both raised blood vitamin D.

Yes, in the trials that measured it. Vitamin D status is judged with a blood test called 25(OH)D, which shows how much vitamin D is circulating in your body. In several trials, a D3 spray raised that number as well as a capsule did.*

Vitamin D is a nutrient that helps your body absorb calcium^[5], a main building block of bone. It also supports muscles, nerves and the immune system.* A spray is one more way to get the same vitamin D3 into your daily routine.

The rest of this article covers what the research measured and where its limits are. Sprays were not shown to beat pills, and the data points to them being a comparable option.

It found that a vitamin D3 spray works comparably to other delivery methods. The review, published in Nutrients in 2020^[1], looked for randomized trials that compared a buccal spray (sprayed into the mouth) with capsules, drops or other forms.

What it covered: Four randomized trials met the criteria. They included healthy adults, adults with intestinal malabsorption, and children aged 5 to 17 with neurodisabilities.

What changed: Only one trial reported that the spray raised 25(OH)D more than capsules. The other three found no difference between delivery methods.

The authors' conclusion: Spray delivery "does not appear superior to the other modes of delivery." They also noted that a spray may suit people who have difficulty swallowing pills.

The catch: The trials differed in dose (800 to 3,000 IU a day) and length (30 days to 3 months), so the results could not be pooled. Only four trials were available.

The winter crossover trial

Who took part: 22 healthy adults^[2] in a randomized, open-label crossover study. Each person used both forms, with a 10-week break between them.

Daily dose: 3000 IU (75 mcg) of vitamin D3 for 4 weeks, as a capsule or an oral spray.

What changed: The spray raised 25(OH)D by a mean of 26.15 nmol/L and the capsule by 30.38 nmol/L. The difference was not statistically significant (P=0.313). The authors called the spray "an equally effective alternative" to capsules.

The catch: The group was small and the study ran for a single winter.

The placebo-controlled trial

Who took part: 75 healthy volunteers^[3] in a randomized, placebo-controlled study with three arms: a vitamin D capsule, a sublingual spray (under the tongue), or a placebo control. The 2020 review^[1] describes it as double-blind, with the control group getting a placebo capsule and a placebo spray.

Daily dose: 3,000 IU of D3 for 6 weeks.

What changed: Both supplement groups ended with higher 25(OH)D than the control group. The authors reported that the capsule and spray "were equally efficacious." Levels rose about 2 nmol/L per day on average, and faster in people who started lower.

The catch: The review reports that two participants had small blisters on the cheek and tongue. It was the only one of the four trials to report any adverse event.

The children's trial

Who took part: 24 children^[4] aged 5 to 17 with neurodisabilities, randomized to a buccal spray or oral drops for 3 months.

What changed: Both groups saw a significant rise in 25(OH)D. Patients were significantly more satisfied with the spray.

The catch: The 2020 review rated this trial at high risk of bias. Dosing for children is a question for a pediatrician.

No, and the evidence does not claim it is. The trials above show similar results, not an advantage. That is a fair and useful finding: the spray did the same job.

Vitamin D is fat-soluble, which means it dissolves in fat rather than water. MedlinePlus notes^[5] that vitamin D supplements are absorbed better with a meal or snack that contains some fat. Our guide to timing vitamins D and K covers that in more detail.

For a closer look at the form itself, see D3 K2 spray vs tablets.

For reference, our vitamin D3 + K2 spray has 55 mcg (2200 IU) of vitamin D3 and 100 mcg of vitamin K2 per 1 mL serving.

People who find pills hard to swallow are the clearest group. The 2020 review authors noted that a spray may suit them. In the children's trial, patients were also more satisfied with the spray than with drops.

Other practical reasons come from the format itself:

• It needs no water, so it is easy to use anywhere.
• It is small enough to keep in a bag or desk drawer.
• It avoids capsule shells, for people who prefer that.

A daily habit only helps if you keep it up. If the format makes that easier for you, the research says you give up nothing in terms of raising vitamin D levels.*

Anyone with a health condition, anyone on medication, and anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should talk with a doctor first. This applies to every form of vitamin D, spray or not. MedlinePlus advises asking a provider whether you need a supplement and how much. A provider can order a 25(OH)D blood test.

Check with your doctor first if you:

• take blood thinners (anticoagulants) or any other medication, since vitamin K and vitamin D can interact with some drugs
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• are choosing a supplement for a child
• have a kidney condition or a history of kidney stones, since too much vitamin D can raise blood calcium
• have a condition that affects fat absorption, or a history of gastric bypass

MedlinePlus lists^[6] the upper limit for vitamin D as 4,000 IU (100 mcg) a day for people 9 and older. It notes that toxicity almost always comes from using too many supplements.