The deal with vitamin D
Before calcium can do its job, it has to be absorbed by your body - and that's where vitamin D comes in. Vitamin D regulates calcium absorption in the body, maintains calcium and phosphate levels, and promotes bone growth.
Your body produces vitamin D when your bare skin is exposed to sunshine — specifically ultraviolet B rays — making vitamin D known as “The Sunshine Vitamin”. You can also get vitamin D from your diet and supplements like Viactiv® Calcium plus D, which delivers 12.5 mcg (500 IUs) of vitamin D in every tasty chew.
And yet, you may be deficient in D
Here's how to get more D
The best way to know you’re getting enough vitamin D is to ask your health care professional for a blood test that checks your vitamin D levels. In the meantime, there are 3 things you can do to get more vitamin D, starting now:
Get more sun
Depending on your skin type, getting as little as 10 to 15 minutes a day of sun exposure on your bare skin, without sunscreen can stimulate vitamin D production. After that, put on your sunscreen.
Eat foods with vitamin D
To help make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D in your diet, here are some of the foods that rank high in this all-important vitamin:
- Cod liver oil
- Fatty fish, like salmon
- Tuna fish, canned
- Sardines
- Eggs
- Swiss cheese
- Orange juice
- Milk, Vitamin D-fortified
- Ready-to-eat cereal, Vitamin D-fortified

Take a supplement
In addition to sun and diet, a supplement with vitamin D can help you get what you need. While vitamin D is available in two forms — D2 and D3 — Viactiv® Calcium plus D contains 12.5 mcg (500 IUs) of vitamin D3. Both raise vitamin D levels in the blood, but some research indicates vitamin D3 may be more effective in raising and maintaining vitamin D levels in the long term.
Vitamin K: The Bone Protector
Vitamin K: The key to helping D
Over the last 10 years, vitamin K has proven to play an important role in bone health.
Vitamin K partners with vitamin D to boost calcium absorption, affect calcium balance and increase bone mineral density — helping your body absorb osteocalcin*, a protein that studies show may be essential for protecting bones from fractures.
Note: If you’re on blood-thinning medications, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking Viactiv® Calcium plus D.
How much, and how to get Vitamin K
It doesn't take much to get the vitamin K intake you need. For adults 19 and over, you need just 120 mcg a day to meet your recommended daily value — and just one Viactiv® Calcium plus D chew gives you 40 mcg of vitamin K. Leafy greens and vegetables like these are a great source of vitamin K:
All are 1 cup serving sizes
All are 1 cup serving sizes