The Reason Orange Juice Has Vitamin D - And Some Doesn't - Tasting Table

"Oranges, for all their wholesome reputation, contain no vitamin D whatsoever. Not a drop. The vitamin simply doesn't occur in citrus fruit, and the reason comes down to chemistry. You see, Vitamin D is a fat-soluble substance, meaning it only ever shows up in fatty foods - think oily fish, egg yolks, liver, and offal ( Metabolites). Orange juice is made up of mostly water, so there was never any mechanism for the vitamin to hitch a ride in it."

"Since the early 2000s, brands like Minute Maid have been adding D2 or D3 to select carton varieties. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, your body absorbs this added vitamin D from fortified juice with roughly the same efficiency as from a capsule. Not every product gets this treatment, however, so if this is important for you, check the label for something like "Vitamin D Added". Takes just two seconds!"

"As you browse, you're bound to come across cartons like these Organic Orange Juice by 365 by Whole Foods Market - besides vitamin D, it also comes with calcium added, as well. Raw orange juice naturally contains some of this bone-building mineral (about 9 milligrams for every 100 grams, per U"

Orange juice provides vitamin C and other natural components but contains no vitamin D. Vitamin D does not occur in citrus fruit because it is fat-soluble and requires fatty foods to be present. Sunlight is the main source for most people, since skin produces vitamin D after UV exposure, while indoor lifestyles or winter may require dietary sources or supplements. Some mass-market orange juice products have added vitamin D2 or D3 since the early 2000s, and the body can absorb fortified juice similarly to a capsule. Labels may indicate “Vitamin D Added,” and some products also add calcium beyond the small amount naturally present.

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