Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

Your Vitamin D Levels Affect Sleep Health + How A Supplement Can Help

Morgan Chamberlain
Author:
August 11, 2023
Morgan Chamberlain
Former mbg Supplement Editor
By Morgan Chamberlain
Former mbg Supplement Editor
Morgan Chamberlain is mindbodygreen's former supplement editor. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in magazine journalism and a minor in nutrition.
Subtle Signs You Should Be Getting More Sleep (Beyond Just Feeling Tired)
Image by SERGEY FILIMONOV / Stocksy
August 11, 2023

There are a few common culprits that can turn a good night's sleep into a night of tossing and turning: suboptimal room temperature, blue light exposure, caffeine too close to bedtime, to name a few. But have you considered how nutrition may be playing a role in your sleep health?

As it turns out, your vitamin D status (specifically, getting enough of the essential nutrient) can seriously affect your chances of getting a good night's rest.

Considering 41% of U.S. adults are insufficient in vitamin D, and 29% are straight-up deficient1, Americans looking to improve their sleep health would be smart to start by checking if their vitamin D levels are sufficient.

The connection between vitamin D & sleep

According to a 2020 scientific review2 from Current Pharmaceutical Design, vitamin D receptors are found in multiple areas of the brain that regulate sleep, suggesting the essential vitamin has an important role in sleep health. Vitamin D has also been found to have a direct impact on melatonin production pathways and an indirect impact on health issues that affect sleep quality.*

When it comes to vitamin D intake, it appears getting enough of the "sunshine vitamin" correlates with getting adequate sleep as well: A 2019 Nutrients cross-sectional analysis3 reveals that U.S. adult "short-sleepers" (i.e., individuals that get less than seven hours of sleep each night) have an average daily intake of approximately 178 IU of vitamin D. 

For the record, that's 1,822 IU below the amount of vitamin D an adult would need to avoid gross deficiency (i.e., 2,000 IU to avoid a failing vitamin D level of less than 20 ng/ml), and a whopping 4,822 IU less than the necessary daily dosage (5,000 IU) to achieve truly optimal vitamin D levels (50 ng/ml)!

Taking into account the minimum dosage (3,000 IU) required to achieve minimum clinical cutoff for sufficiency (30 ng/ml), this correlation doesn't seem coincidental.

So, how can we ensure we're getting enough vitamin D and sufficient sleep? Answer: A daily vitamin D supplement.* 

How vitamin D supplementation can help improve sleep quality

Though it's nicknamed the sunshine vitamin, the truth is that getting enough vitamin D from the sun alone isn't just difficult—it's near impossible (and risky). Unfortunately, diet also fails us in this regard (unless you enjoy drinking 50 glasses of milk a day, which has its own nutritional concerns).

The truth is this: Daily vitamin D supplementation is your best chance of achieving healthy vitamin D levels and reaping the vitamin's many health benefits (which include supporting your sleep health!).* 

In fact, a recent Nutrients meta-analysis4 found a clear link between sufficient vitamin D levels and high-quality rest. What's more, the research revealed that individuals that took a vitamin D supplement had better scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (a robust, validated one-month assessment of sleep quality), showing how beneficial supplementation can be for the quality of your slumber.* 

The takeaway

There's no denying that vitamin D plays an important role in sleep health.

Considering diet and sunshine alone aren't quite enough to move the needle on vitamin D status, an effective vitamin D supplement is the best way to ensure sufficiency and support a good night's rest.* 

That said, not all D supplements are created equal—be sure to find a premium daily supplement that delivers 5,000 IU of D3 from a clean source. (Hint: mbg's vitamin D3 potency+ covers all these bases and features built-in absorption technology via a trio of organic olive, avocado, and flaxseed oils for enhanced bioavailability!)*

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Health
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.