Finally, researchers, physicians and health conscious individuals are beginning to agree that vitamin D is an important component of healthy living.
Thousands of studies evaluated the role of vitamin D status in an array of health outcomes. Today, vitamin D plays a role in at least 45 chronic health conditions. According to new research, yet another condition can be included in this list: insomnia.
Insomnia at a glance
If you have a difficult time falling and/or staying asleep, or feel restless at night and fatigued during the day, you may be one of approximately 80 million Americans who struggle with a sleep disorder.
Sleep is a life-sustaining function of our bodies. Most view sleep as the opportunity for our mind and body to rest. However, our bodies go to work during sleep. This allows our bodies to actively repair tissues, consolidate memories and restore what is lost while awake.
Prolonged sleep deprivation takes a toll on our health over time. From memory loss and mood changes to impaired judgement and decreased physical drive, sleep disorders undoubtedly pose a serious threat to long-term health. In fact, unmanaged sleep disorders may lead to an increased risk for heart disease, stroke and mortality.
Is there a relationship between vitamin D and insomnia?
So, how may vitamin D affect sleep? Research suggests that vitamin D may be a useful tool in managing sleep disorders due to its ability to regulate circadian rhythms, our body’s internal clock that instructs us when to sleep, eat and rest. This theory has been supported by several studies which have found low vitamin D status is linked with disordered sleeping habits.
Furthermore, one study found that maintaining vitamin D levels between 60-80 ng/ml was required to remedy insomnia. These findings were further validated by a randomized controlled trial that found vitamin D supplementation helped improve sleep quality, duration and the time it took to fall asleep in adults who suffer from insomnia. However, research has yet to investigate the role of vitamin D and resistance to sleep medication.
New research on vitamin D and resistance to sleep medication
The researchers from this study aimed to determine whether vitamin D status impacted treatment outcome among chronic insomnia patients after two months. A total of 181 chronic insomnia patients were included in the analysis, along with 100 healthy controls. The participants had their vitamin D levels tested and followed the patient’s treatment outcome over a two-month period, using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a standard tool to measure sleep quality.
Research findings
- A total of 181 participants did not respond to their sleep medication.
- Those with chronic insomnia had significantly lower vitamin D levels compared to their healthy counterparts (23.01 ng/ml (57.53 nmol/l) versus 27.17 ng/ml (67.92 nmol/l); p < 0.001).
- Those who did not respond to sleep medication had lower vitamin D status than those who responded to the medication.
- Those with vitamin D levels below 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/l) had 11.636 times increased odds of non-response to treatment at 2 months (OR: 11.636; 95% CI: 3.966-34.142; p < 0.001) than those with levels above 20 ng/ml.
The researchers concluded,
“Measurement of serum 25(OH)D concentrations are probably useful for judging treatment outcomes of pharmacotherapy in chronic insomnia patients.”
Due to the growing evidence supporting the relationship between vitamin D and sleep quality, along with the safety and affordability of supplementation, the Vitamin D Council recommends adults supplement with 5,000 – 10,000 IU (125 – 250 mcg) vitamin D3 daily in order to reach healthy vitamin D levels (40-80 ng/ml) and thus support healthy sleeping patterns.
Has vitamin D supplementation helped you manage a sleep disorder? If you would like to share your experience with vitamin D and sleep quality with our community, please comment below!