Alpha-Gal Friendly Vegan Vitamin Supplements: My Top Picks!
With Alpha-Gal Syndrome, finding safe health supplements can be a difficult job.
It’s surprising how many supplements have mammal byproducts in them! You have to assume that nothing is safe, until you go through the entire ingredients list and make sure each ingredient mammal-free.
In this post I will share the specific vitamin supplements that I have used and where to find them.
While I can’t guarantee that they will be safe for you, these supplements are mammal-free as far as I know, and I have used them without having any allergic reactions.
#1 - Doctor’s Best Vegan D3
Vitamin D is an integral part of staying healthy! The more I learn about AGS, the more I am seeing that many people with Alpha-Gal Syndrome are grossly deficient in vitamin D. This vitamin supports healthy emotions, healthy body weight, and a healthy immune system.
My vitamin D levels were very low even before I received my Alpha-Gal Syndrome diagnosis, to the point where I was taking weekly vitamin D injections. I can’t take those now because they are made from lanolin, a source of vitamin D that is found in sheep’s wool.
(It’s crazy how even vitamin D can cause an allergic reaction…oh well!)
Doctor’s Best vitamin D3 is completely vegan, and uses cholecalciferol (plant-sourced D3) instead of ergocalciferol (animal-sourced D2).
It comes in capsules you can take daily and is very affordable! At the time of writing this blog post it costs $9.31 per bottle, with each bottle containing 60 capsules (1-2 months’ worth).
#2 - GIVOL Vitamin D3
This vitamin supplement contains both D3 and K2, so it’s two vitamins in one. It comes in a liquid form and uses coconut oil as the carrier.
Additionally, if you like supporting small brands, this might be a good pick for you! GIVOL is a small family business based on the east coast, and all of their products are sourced in the US.
As of right now it costs $19.80 per 2oz bottle.
#3 - ez melts D3 Dissolvable Vitamins
These are tasty apple-flavored tablets that melt in your mouth! Kids would love these, which makes them a good choice if you have a child with Alpha-Gal Syndrome.
Like GIVOL brand, ez melts vitamin D also includes vitamin K. The cost right now is $20.69 for a bottle of 90 tablets.
#4 - Biotics B12 Lozenges
Animal meats are naturally high in B vitamins, but since folks with Alpha-Gal Syndrome have to avoid a lot of meats, it’s harder for us to get all the B vitamins we need!
Vitamin B complex is integral for the production of neurotransmitters which regulate mood. They’re also important for healthy energy levels and heart health.
Personally, vitamin B complex in conjunction with iron supplementation has made the biggest difference in how I feel and the amount of energy I have. Plus B vitamins have greatly improved my hair and nails! I have never had long, strong finger nails, but with the combination of iron and B complex my fingernails no longer split, peel, and break.
The Biotics B12 complex also contains B6 and folate, and comes in a lozenge that easily dissolves in your mouth. It actually tastes great too, and is made in the US! It costs $30.21 for a bottle with 60 lozenges.
#5 - ez melts B12 Dissolvable Vitamins
And…we’re back to ez melts!
Their B12 vitamin tablets are cherry-flavored instead of apple-flavored, but otherwise pretty similar to their vitamin D supplement. They also contain zero sugar (and still taste good!)
A bottle of 90 tablets costs $16.19.
Bonus: Floradix Herbal Supplement
This supplement is more of an iron supplement than a vitamin supplement, but since it’s one I take regularly, I thought I’d include it as a bonus!
Through this Alpha-Gal Syndrome journey I have found that many of us have low iron or are anemic. Part of this could be due to the transition away from the more iron-rich mammal meats. My low iron could also have been impacted by Lyme disease, which I have separately from AGS.
Iron is a vital mineral that plays a key role in several bodily functions, including oxygen transport, energy production, and immune system support. I know that improving my iron has been integral to increasing my energy!
This Floradix herbal supplement is made from fruit juice concentrates. It combines pear, grape, black currant, orange, blackberry and cherry juices, and is sweetened with a touch of honey. Despite all that, to be perfectly honest, this product still doesn’t have the best taste!
But it’s high in iron and it does the job, at least for me. In addition to iron, it’s also a vitamin B and vitamin C supplement.
These are just a few of the supplements that I use or have used personally. When I am searching for something new I always put vegan as the first word in the search. I still have to check each product for carrageenan, but at least it narrows things down so there are fewer ingredients to sort through.
I shop at Amazon, iHerb, Swanson’s, Ebay and Vitamin World. Once I find a supplement I love, I will often order directly from the manufacturer. I want to support the folks that created these marvelous products!
I hope this information will be helpful to someone. If you have Alpha-Gal friendly supplements you’d like me to share, please email me at lori@onetickedchick.com.
