If you suffer from insomnia, you may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep for several nights in a row. Insomnia can affect your ability to function and compromise your feelings of well-being. While insomnia has a number of possible causes, some research has shown that a vitamin D deficiency may also play a role. Using a vitamin D-3 supplement may provide benefits for alleviating symptoms of insomnia. Always consult your physician before using any dietary supplement.
About Vitamin D-3
Vitamin D-3, also known as cholecalciferol, is a form of vitamin D synthesized by your body in response to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Other forms of vitamin D are obtained through food sources or dietary supplementation. A vitamin D deficiency can occur if you don't receive enough exposure to sunlight or if you don't eat enough foods containing vitamin D, such as fortified milk and fish. Some people are at a higher risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency, especially older adults, people with dark skin, whose skin is not able to manufacture vitamin D as effectively, and people who stay indoors or do not otherwise obtain enough sunlight exposure.
Sleep Problems and Vitamin D-3
Vitamin D-3 plays a role in maintaining your circadian rhythms, your body's natural cycle of waking and falling asleep. Circadian rhythms are largely influenced by sunlight exposure. When it becomes dark outside, your body signals that it's time to fall asleep. Similarly, you wake up when it becomes light. This action occurs because of sunlight's effect on the skin's production of vitamin D-3. Vitamin D-3 plays a role in manufacturing melatonin, the hormone responsible to signaling the sleep-wake cycle.
Clinical Evidence
A case study, published in the December 2010 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine," showed the effects of a vitamin D deficiency in a 28-year old woman suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness due to a lack of sleep. The researcher treated this patient with vitamin D supplementation at a dose of 50,000 IU once a week. After one week, her symptoms improved significantly, and she no longer suffered from daytime sleepiness. Despite the benefits of vitamin D supplementation on this particular patient, more studies are needed to fully evaluate the uses of vitamin D-3 supplementation on a broader population suffering from sleep problems.
Considerations
While some practitioners support the benefits of vitamin D-3 supplementation on sleep disorders, you should always consult your doctor before using any dietary supplement. Do not attempt to self-treat your symptoms with vitamins. Insomnia can be a sign of a more serious underlying medical condition.
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