Sleep Apnea & Vitamin D Deficiency

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that causes a repeated starting and stopping in breathing during sleep. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common and happens when throat muscles relax. Treatment is available for sleep apnea, including surgery; consult your doctor if you suspect you or a relative is suffering from it.

Sleep Apnea

Shallow breathing and pauses during sleep typically last 10 to 20 seconds. Sleep apnea occurs when you cannot get enough oxygen during sleep. This causes the amount of oxygen in your blood to drop. Normal breathing resumes through a choking sound or snort noises. Sleep apnea can cause drowsiness during the day due to a poor night of sleep, which affects your ability to concentrate.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Effective lifestyle changes can help manage sleep apnea; self-help treatments include no smoking or drinking alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding sedatives and not drinking caffeine or taking heavy meals two hours before sleep. Continuous Positive Airflow is generally the best treatment for sleep apnea. A mask machine provides air which keeps breathing passages open during sleep and the effects are immediate. Consult a doctor for treatment if self-help methods are not effective.

Vitamin D and Sources

Vitamin D is fat-soluble substance that is vital for maintaining calcium metabolism. Other functions of vitamin D include cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function. Ultraviolet rays from sun exposure produce vitamin D that the skin absorb. Few foods contain vitamin D; therefore, it is difficult to get vitamin D from food alone. People that stay indoors often or use sunscreen may not get sufficient levels of vitamin D. Cod liver oil, salmon, tuna egg yolk and milk are excellent sources of vitamin D.

Sleep and Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency can cause daytime sleepiness, according to sleep expert Dr David McCarty, whose study, outlined in the Dec. 15, 2010 edition of "The Journal of Clinical Sleep," evaluated a 28-year-old woman suffering from excessive sleep for four months. Her chronic fatigue was due to a vitamin D deficiency; therefore, McCarty prescribed a dose of 50,000 UI once a week. After two weeks of the treatment, the woman's symptoms improved sleep quality and elevation of headaches and thigh pain. More research is needed for evidence of the effectiveness of this treatment.

Vitamin D Dosage and Deficiency Risk

The National Institutes of Health recommended daily dietary allowance of vitamin D is 10 to 15 mcg for children, 15 mcg for adults ages 19 to 70, and 20 mcg for over 70s. Vitamin D deficiency is common with elder people because their skin cannot synthesize vitamin D as efficiently as the younger population. People with darker skin have a greater amount of melanin in the epidermal layer making it more difficult to absorb vitamin D. According to the National Institutes of Health, black people show lower serum 25 levels than white people. People who are obese and have very limited sun exposure is also at risk of vitamin D deficiency.