Quick answer

Ask your pharmacist or doctor before combining. NIH names 3 statins, atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin, that high intakes of vitamin D from supplements might make less potent, and says statins may also reduce the body's own vitamin D production. NIH words both as possibilities, and the statin labels read do not name vitamin D.^1,2,3,4

Key facts

NIH's health professional sheet lists statins, with orlistat, steroids and thiazide diuretics, among the medicines that can interact with vitamin D.¹
NIH says high intakes of vitamin D, especially from supplements, might reduce the potency of atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin.¹
NIH's consumer sheet says cholesterol-lowering statins might not work as well if you take high-dose vitamin D supplements.²
NIH says statins reduce cholesterol synthesis, and because the body's own vitamin D is derived from cholesterol, statins may also reduce vitamin D synthesis.¹
The atorvastatin and simvastatin labels do not name vitamin D, and both ask patients to tell their healthcare provider about the vitamins they take.^3,4

Ask your pharmacist or doctor first

High intakes of vitamin D, especially from supplements, might make atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin less potent, because they appear to compete for the same enzyme that breaks them down. Statins may also reduce the body's own production of vitamin D.^1,2

Reported in studies

What does NIH say about vitamin D and statins?

The entry above holds two separate effects that run in opposite directions. One concerns how much vitamin D the body makes, and the other concerns how much of a statin stays active. NIH's health professional sheet lists both under its heading on interactions with medications.¹

NIH words both effects as possibilities. Its fact sheets give no amount of vitamin D at which the effect on statins begins: the health professional sheet says high intakes, especially from supplements, and the consumer sheet says high-dose supplements.^1,2

Which statins does NIH name, and which does it not?

NIH names atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin. Other statins, such as rosuvastatin and pravastatin, are not named in the passage read for this page, and the sources checked do not address them. That is not a finding either way, so ask your pharmacist which statin you take and whether NIH's wording applies to it.¹

The atorvastatin and simvastatin labels hold the official lists of medicines that change their levels, and vitamin D is not on them. Both end with the same general request: tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including vitamins and herbal supplements. That is why this entry rests on studies, not on a label.^3,4

What about muscle pain on a statin, and vitamin D?

Muscle symptoms are a statin concern in their own right. The atorvastatin label describes myopathy as muscle pain, tenderness or weakness with raised creatine kinase, and asks patients to report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness promptly. Its risk factors include age 65 or older, an uncontrolled underactive thyroid, impaired kidney function, some other medicines and higher doses.³

Vitamin D is not among the risk factors the label lists, and the NIH passages read for this page do not link vitamin D to statin muscle symptoms. That is not a finding either way, so ask your pharmacist or doctor if you have muscle symptoms. MedlinePlus lists muscle pain, tenderness or weakness among the symptoms to report to your doctor.^1,3,5

Where does extra vitamin D come from?

In 2015 to 2016, 28% of Americans aged 2 and older took a supplement containing vitamin D, rising to 49% of men and 59% of women aged 60 and older. Supplements lifted average intake from 4.8 mcg (192 IU) to 19.9 mcg (796 IU) a day.¹

The entry above shows how much supplements can add to what food provides. NIH also says fortified foods supply most of the vitamin D in American diets, so the total from every source, not one bottle, is the figure to bring to your pharmacist.^1,2

What to ask your pharmacist about vitamin D and your statin

Which statin do I take, and is it one of the three NIH names?
How much vitamin D am I getting from supplements, multivitamins and calcium products combined?
Should my cholesterol or vitamin D level be checked after I start or stop a supplement?
If I notice muscle pain or weakness, who should I call first?

Questions people ask

Can you take vitamin D with statins?

Ask your pharmacist or doctor first. NIH says high intakes of vitamin D from supplements might make atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin less potent, and that statins may reduce the body's own vitamin D production.¹

Do statins lower vitamin D?

NIH says statins reduce cholesterol synthesis, and because the body's own vitamin D is derived from cholesterol, statins may also reduce vitamin D synthesis. It is worded as a possibility.¹

Does vitamin D3 interact with statins?

NIH's statin passage says vitamin D and does not separate D3 from D2. The sources checked do not address the forms separately. That is not a finding either way, so ask your pharmacist about the one you use.¹

Does vitamin D matter for statin muscle pain?

The sources read do not link them. The atorvastatin label asks patients to report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness promptly, so talk to your pharmacist or doctor about any muscle symptoms.^1,3

What does the NHS say about vitamin D and statins?

This page draws on US sources: NIH, MedlinePlus and DailyMed labels. It does not review NHS guidance, so ask your pharmacist if your own national advice differs.^1,5

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This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.