Sports Research D3 + K2 Plant Based 5000 IU

This page is for decision support, not hype. Sports Research D3 + K2 Plant Based 5000 IU stands out mainly for its vegan D3 from lichen, MK-7 K2 from chickpea, and clearly labeled softgel format. The tradeoff is simple: this is a relatively high-potency, combination formula at a mid-range price, so it fits some shoppers well and is easy to skip if you want a lower-dose or D-only option.

Best for: adults who specifically want a vitamin D plus K2 combo in a vegan softgel
Skip if: you want the lowest cost, a lower dose, or need to avoid K2 because of medication concerns
Form: plant-based veggie softgel with coconut MCT oil and olive oil
Active dose: vitamin D3 125 mcg (5,000 IU) from lichen plus vitamin K2 100 mcg as MK-7 from chickpea
Servings: 60 veggie softgels, 1 softgel per serving, 60 servings per container
Quality markers: Certified Vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, Gluten Free, Third Party Tested, cGMP Compliant
Price band: mid-range, with the public iHerb listing around $25.97

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On this pageTable of Contents

Reviewed for Trust

Author: Supplement Explained
Role: Editorial Publisher
Last reviewed: March 28, 2026
Last updated: March 28, 2026
Editorial Policy | How We Review Evidence | Research Process | Disclaimer
Use: Informational only. Not personal medical advice.

Top snapshot

If you are browsing product pages and trying to decide whether this one is worth comparing, the short version is that its appeal is the plant-based D3 plus MK-7 pairing with vegan certification. It is not the simplest formula and not the cheapest path to vitamin D.

Metric	This Product	Why It Matters
Form	Vegan D3 + MK-7 softgel with coconut MCT	The plant-based capsule and combo formula are the biggest differentiators.
Active dose	5,000 IU D3 + 100 mcg K2 per softgel	This is a real overlap-risk dose, not a casual low-potency formula.
Servings	60	The bottle size is practical, but not especially long-lasting for the price.
Quality marker	Certified Vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, 3rd-party tested	The quality story matters more here than novelty ingredients.
Price band	Mid-range	You pay more than simple D3-only softgels for the combo and vegan format.
Best for	Plant-based D3 + K2 shoppers	Less ideal if you want the simplest possible D3 routine.

Label facts snapshot

This is the real comparison version of a very common question: do you want plain D3, or do you specifically want a vegan D3 plus K2 combo? This label is easy to like on paper, but it is still a narrower fit than a basic D3 softgel.

Serving size

What the label asks you to take

1 veggie softgel

The routine is clean and simple, which is one of the product’s biggest strengths.

Real dose

What the combo actually gives you

5,000 IU D3 + 100 mcg K2

This is a meaningful combo, not a tiny add-on blend.

Other ingredients

What changes product fit

Lichen D3, chickpea MK-7, oils, vegan softgel

This is a real plus if vegan sourcing matters to you.

Routine burden

What daily use feels like

Easy routine, narrower fit

One softgel is easy. The harder part is deciding whether you wanted K2 in the formula at all.

Why this product exists on the site

This page exists to help readers compare a specific formula in context, especially if they landed here from our Sports Research brand page or broader vitamin D guide. The goal is to explain what this label does well, where it creates tradeoffs, and what to compare before buying.

It is not a retailer pitch and not a claim that this exact branded product has unique clinical evidence behind it. Most of the useful evidence here is about vitamin D guidance overall, not about this exact SKU.

Formula breakdown

The public listing shows one veggie softgel provides vitamin D3 125 mcg, equal to 5,000 IU, sourced from lichen, plus vitamin K2 100 mcg as MK-7 sourced from chickpea. The suggested use is 1 softgel daily with food, or as directed by a qualified healthcare professional.

The softgel also uses coconut MCT oil and olive oil, with a PlantGel capsule made from non-GMO modified tapioca starch, vegetable glycerin, purified water, and turmeric for color. The listing says turmeric is used in the outer shell to help protect the actives from photo-degradation.

If you are comparing labels, our guide on how to read a supplement label can help you look past the front-of-bottle marketing and focus on dose, serving size, source, and overlap.

Studied dose vs label reality

The real search intent here is usually some version of ‘do I need K2 with D3’ or ‘is vegan D3 + K2 worth it.’ The answer is not the same for everyone, and this label only makes sense if you already want the combo lane.

Label dose

What one softgel gives you

5,000 IU D3 + 100 mcg MK-7

This is a serious combo serving, not a half-measure.

What people compare

The real dose question

Plain D3 vs D3 + K2 is the main fork

Most shoppers are really deciding between simpler standalone D3 and a combo like this one.

Dose verdict

Does the label make sense?

Roughly aligned Strong combo label for the right user

The weak spot is not underdosing. It is that the formula is easier to rule out if K2 or medication context matters.

Biggest catch

What shoppers often miss

Good combo label still does not mean you need the combo

A clean vegan D3+K2 product can still be the wrong lane if your real question is basic D3 status.

What looks strong

Plant-based sourcing is the headline feature. Vegan D3 from lichen is the main differentiator for shoppers who do not want lanolin-based D3.
The K2 form is clearly named. The label specifies MK-7, which is more useful than a vague “vitamin K2” callout.
The format is simple. One softgel per day is straightforward, and the oil-based softgel format may appeal to people who prefer not to take multiple capsules.
Quality claims are easy to spot. The listing includes Certified Vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, Gluten Free, Third Party Tested, and cGMP Compliant.
Label transparency is decent. The ingredient sources and other ingredients are clearly disclosed.

What looks weak and what the tradeoffs are

The biggest tradeoff is potency. A 5,000 IU vitamin D softgel is not a casual “just in case” amount for everyone, especially if you already take a multivitamin, another D product, or a wellness stack with overlapping ingredients. If you are not sure what your overall intake looks like, start by checking your full label stack and reading about vitamin D side effects.

The second tradeoff is the built-in K2. Some readers want D3 only, not a combo formula. Others take medication where vitamin K deserves extra caution, especially anticoagulants such as warfarin. That does not make this a bad product. It just means the formula is narrower in fit than a plain D3 product. Our comparison on vitamin D alone vs D3 plus K2 is often the better first read if you are undecided.

There is also a cost tradeoff. Vegan sourcing, MK-7, and the softgel format help explain the price, but they also push it above many basic D-only options.

Who this product may fit

Adults who specifically want a vegan vitamin D3 rather than lanolin-based D3
People who prefer a D3 plus K2 MK-7 combination in one softgel
Shoppers who value certification and label clarity enough to pay a mid-range price
People who already know a higher-potency D3 formula makes sense for their situation and want a plant-based version

For practical use, the listing suggests taking it with food. If timing is your main question, see the best time to take vitamin D.

Who should skip it

Anyone who wants a lower-dose or simpler D-only formula
People already using another high-dose vitamin D supplement
People taking anticoagulants such as warfarin, unless a clinician says the formula is appropriate
Anyone who is pregnant, nursing, has a diagnosed medical condition, or takes prescription medication and has not checked first
People who need to avoid coconut, since the formula contains coconut-derived ingredients

If your situation is not straightforward, it is usually better to review what blood tests matter before vitamin D and when to talk to a clinician before choosing a 5,000 IU product.

Red flags before you hit buy

These are the things most likely to make the product feel wrong later, even if the label looked fine at first.

Skip it if you already know you want D3 only. Paying for MK-7 makes no sense if you do not want the combo.
Pause if vitamin K is a medication issue. This is one of the first things to sort out before buying.
Do not buy it just because vegan D3 sounds cleaner. Vegan sourcing is useful, but it does not answer whether the combo fits your goal.

Price analysis

The public iHerb listing shows this product at about $25.97 for 60 servings. That works out to roughly $0.43 per softgel. For a vegan D3 plus MK-7 formula in an oil-based softgel, that reads as mid-range rather than budget.

What you are paying for is not novelty. It is the combination of plant-based sourcing, vegan certification, MK-7 inclusion, and a fairly clean label presentation. If you only want vitamin D and do not care about K2 or vegan sourcing, cheaper paths are common.

Price per meaningful dose

This product is not cheap, but the price is easier to understand once you remember you are paying for a vegan combo formula, not just a plain D3 capsule.

Per serving

Cost each day you use it

About $0.43

That is clearly above basic D3 pricing.

Per combo serving

Cost for the full D3 + K2 package

About $0.43

The meaningful-dose math stays the same because one softgel already is the full combo serving.

What you are paying for

Where the premium comes from

Vegan sourcing + combo formula

The price is mostly about plant-based D3, MK-7, and the cleaner-label positioning.

Quality verification

The listing describes the product as Certified Vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, Gluten Free, Third Party Tested, and cGMP Compliant. Those are useful quality signals, especially for shoppers comparing crowded supplement pages.

Still, quality claims on a product page are not the same as a public batch-specific certificate of analysis. The right practical read is that the label looks stronger than average for transparency, but buyers should still use normal label scrutiny and avoid assuming that “third party tested” answers every question.

What this product is really implying

The formula is trying to tell a neat story: cleaner sourcing, stronger combo logic, one softgel, done. That story is appealing, but it still skips the question of whether you needed D3 plus K2 together.

Marketing angle

What the product is trying to say

This is the smarter premium choice if you want vitamin D done right in one vegan softgel.

Evidence reality

What the research actually supports

There is support for vitamin D overall, and interest in K2 context, but not a blanket rule that every buyer needs this exact combo.

Shopping takeaway

What should decide the buy

Buy it if you specifically want vegan D3 plus K2 in one softgel. Skip it if your real question is simpler than that.

Use-case fit and evidence context

The evidence context here is mostly about vitamin D generally, not this exact branded formula. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements explains that vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is important for bone health. It also makes clear that needs vary, which matters because 5,000 IU is a meaningful daily amount, not a neutral default for every adult.

K2 is included here as MK-7, but that does not mean everyone needs a D3 plus K2 product. In real buying terms, this product makes the most sense for people who already want that pairing and specifically want a vegan softgel. If you are still deciding whether the combo itself makes sense, start with D3 plus K2 versus D alone instead of locking onto a brand first.

Use Case	Evidence	Typical Time Window
Vitamin D maintenance with labs	Moderate	Usually judged over weeks to a few months.
Plant-based daily routine	Practical fit	That fit is immediate if vegan sourcing is a priority.
Combo convenience	Practical fit	One-bottle convenience is immediate, even if outcome questions take longer.
Stack-overlap-sensitive routines	Caution	Overlap risk matters right away if you already take D or K elsewhere.

What real users often report

Anecdotal only. This block summarizes recurring public discussion themes, not controlled research and not hands-on testing by us.

Recurring positives

People like the plant-based D3 angle and the clearer ingredient sourcing
The one-softgel format is seen as convenient
Some users view the brand as easier to trust than more generic listings

Recurring negatives

The 5,000 IU dose feels higher than some users want for routine use
Some shoppers would rather buy plain D3 and skip added K2
Price comes up regularly as a reason to compare other options

Overall read

The general community read is that this looks like a solid niche choice for shoppers who specifically want vegan D3 plus MK-7 in one softgel. It is less appealing for people who want the cheapest vitamin D path or who are unsure whether they need K2 at all.

Public threads reviewed: public community discussions on Reddit at r/Supplements thread 1 and r/Supplements thread 2.

Note: These are summarized recurring themes from public user discussions. They are anecdotal and do not replace clinical evidence or professional guidance.

Better alternatives or compare this instead

If you like the Sports Research brand but do not need K2, a simpler D3-only path may be easier to dose and easier to compare on price. If you are not sure whether a combo formula makes sense, do not start with the product page. Start with the broader decision guide on vitamin D alone vs D3 plus K2 or the main vitamin D supplement page.

If your real goal is broader appearance support, this formula may not be the most direct answer. Readers chasing wellness outcomes like hair, skin, and nails often need a different comparison framework than simply “more vitamin D.”

For buyers who just want to compare across brands, our full products hub is usually the faster place to start than staying inside one SKU.

Alternatives at a glance

Use this quick compare if you are deciding between a vegan D3 plus K2 formula, a simpler D3-only option, or a broader guide before buying anything.

Product	Best For	Main Tradeoff
NOW Vitamin D3 5000 IU	Simpler D3-only value	No K2 and not plant-based.
Doctor's Best Vitamin D3 5000 IU	Longer simple D3 bottle	No K2 and not vegan.
Vitamin D Alone vs D3 + K2	Combo-versus-simple decisions	Less product-specific if the real question is still about formula type.

What changed in this update

This page was tightened to make the buy-or-skip decision faster, plainer, and less dependent on brand hype.

The combo-vs-plain-D3 question was moved up. The page now answers the real fork earlier.
Medication caution was made more visible. Vitamin K context now shows up sooner in the decision flow.
The premium logic was tightened. We now say more clearly what the extra spend is actually buying.