A healthy body requires properly functional organs, hormones, and elements day or night.

Imbalance or deficiency of any of them can impact the health of the person. The body recharges and repairs the cells, tissues, & muscles in sleep. Hence you require Deep sleep to restore and feel awake the next day. 

Many people face difficulty having a good sleep, awake tired, and feel drowsy throughout the day. There may be many reasons behind it, and one can be the deficiency of Vitamin D.

You might already be aware of the impact that Vitamin D deficiency has on bone health. But only a few people know that it can also cause\sleep issues like short sleep duration, disturbance& poor sleep quality.

The science behind the Vitamin-D deficiency and sleep disorders

We have Vitamin-D receptors in our entire body, including the central nervous system. These receptors control your sleep cycle and help you take a deep sleep so you can wake up refreshed. But due to the deficit amount, these receptors cannot function properly. Another reason is that the lack of Vitamin-D results in higher cortisol levels, also known as the stress hormone, which makes it hard to sleep.

These consistent sleep issues may turn into severe sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea.

Triggering Symptoms for sleep disorders

Changing lifestyle, diet habits & more people working in offices, staying indoor, and increasing concerns surrounding sun damage to the skin may also lead to vitamin D deficiency and subsequent sleep issues.

You may notice the following symptoms-

• Bloodshot eyes
• Dark circles
• Puffy eyes
• Daytime sleepiness & fatigue
• Muscle weakness & low mood

High-risk factors

Vitamin D deficiency can be seen in any age group or gender. 

“Almost 70-90 percent of Indians are deficient in vitamin D.”

But the people with liver problems like cirrhosis or fatty liver kidney problems may be at higher risk. Viral and bacterial infections also block the Vitamin-D receptors in your body. So, the people being sick often are also considered at a higher risk. 

Sources of Vitamin-D

You can include the following food items in your diet to recover from the Vitamin-D deficiency symptoms-

• Fatty fishes
• Fish oils
• Egg yolks
• Mushrooms
• Fortified foods like dairy products
• Soy milk & cereals

Vitamin D is also known as the “Sunshine Vitamin”; our body makes cholesterol when our skin is exposed to sunlight. So 10-30 mins of early morning sunlight can help you regain your vitamin D levels.

Often diet alone does not give you enough nutrients; add vitamin D supplements to your diet. These can be customized for each person as per their condition. Your doctor can help you understand it better, so get yourself examined and consult them to get treated on time.