The secret lies in lanolin, a waxy substance naturally found on sheep’s wool. Lanolin protects the sheep’s fleece from rain, dirt and harsh weather. The sheep are not harmed to obtain lanolin. It is collected from the wool after the sheep are routinely sheared, much like getting a haircut.
The production process is surprisingly scientific.
First, lanolin is extracted from the cleaned wool. Scientists then isolate a compound called 7-dehydrocholesterol from it. When this compound is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light under controlled conditions, it is converted into cholecalciferol, better known as Vitamin D3.
The finished product is chemically identical to the Vitamin D3 that the human body naturally produces when skin is exposed to sunlight. Once inside the body, it follows the same biological pathway regardless of whether it originated from lanolin or another approved source.
Neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar explained, “Most vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplements worldwide are traditionally made from lanolin, a natural wax obtained from sheep’s wool. The sheep are not harmed for this purpose, but the vitamin is animal-derived, not vegan.”