Many young adults slog through days in a fog, fueled by coffee, thanks to poor sleep. Surprisingly, your sleep quality can be influenced by vitamin D. Traditionally known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is actually linked to our internal clocks. When vitamin D is low, people tend to have poorer sleep overall. Researchers believe this is partly because vitamin D helps regulate the brain’s sleep centers and the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle

Essentially, Vitamin D works behind the scenes to keep your circadian rhythm on track.

What does this mean for you?

If you’re tossing and turning at night or waking up unrested, low vitamin D could be a contributing factor. Ensuring adequate vitamin D might help you sleep more soundly and wake up refreshed. One sleep medicine expert explains: “Vitamin D seems to affect how much melatonin is made in the body. Of course, that affects sleep.”

By getting enough vitamin D (through sunlight, diet, or supplements), you support your body’s natural sleep regulation. This doesn’t mean vitamin D is a sedative, but correcting a deficiency could remove one obstacle to a good night’s rest. Given that so many of us are deficient in vitamin D, this is an often-overlooked factor in achieving quality sleep.