Submitted by [deleted] t3_z6vqwq in LifeProTips
[deleted]
Submitted by [deleted] t3_z6vqwq in LifeProTips
[deleted]
Probably something to do with circadian rhythm but I ain't no doctor.
I don't actually know why it works, but I and my ex both had improved daytime alertness and better sleep when we started taking vitamin d in the winter (and it wasn't an environmental change, I started it one year and had the effect, he started it another year and had the effect).
The trend today in LPT is to post things that worked to help YOU sleep better, as if they are a universal truth.
As I recall, it inhibits melatonin effectiveness.
Vitamin D is a vitamin we usually get from the sun. Studies show that this vitamin supresses melatonin, which is the hormone that helps you sleep (as it's produced usually in response to darkness).
Doctors always recommend taking vitamin D in the morning.
I had run out of them for a bit and just started taking it again and I woke up an hour earlier today so theres that. There is deff a noticable difference for me.
Also just in general: hey everybody it's winter in the northern hemisphere, and if life sucks and you hate everything right now (or even worse, you are absolutely indifferent to it all), maybe try some Vitamin D and see if that helps? Even if you've never taken it before, this might be the year that you really need it.
Wrist pain is an indicator that your levels are low.
Why in the morning instead of night?
Some people (including me) react to vitamin d with wakefulness. It's not quite like caffeine wakefulness, but it sure keeps me from sleeping for like 4 hours after taking it!
Meanwhile my doc prescribed a high dose, which I take right before bed, no sleep/wake impact at all. Similarly, my SO was prescribed even higher, no "awakeness" impact.
If you're having a reaction before the substance has even made it to your bloodstream, never mind brain, it's likely not due to that substance, but a placebo effect.
That said, continually taking it results in better consistent levels--rendering it meaningless when it's taken as it's always in your bloodstream in sufficient amounts.
Studies show that this vitamin supresses melatonin, which is the hormone that helps you sleep (as it's produced usually in response to darkness).
Vitamin D is a vitamin we usually get from the sun and doctors always recommend taking vitamin D in the morning.
I remember reading in some other thread that this is purely a placebo effect. Granted, a placebo does have an effect on you, but still.
It worked on me when I didn't know it was supposed to, and nighttime vitamin d kept me awake when I didn't know it was supposed to, so . . . I dunno, it might be something that only works in some people, so a study might not see the correlation if other factors are accounted for. Or it's placebo and I'm a weirdo. That's an option š
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!
Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.
If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
Will it still work if I sleep during the day, because Iām a night shift worker?
My guess is it might help to take the vitamin d when you wake up (at night). Would be interested to hear if it helps your night shifts!
I'm a physician. Vitamin D deficiency is indeed associated with low mood and sleep issues, and has been correlated with other problems too, like worse COVID-19 outcomes. As you're suggesting, it's also common in wintertime when sunlight exposure drops due to shorter daylight hours and people hiding from the cold.
As a rule, though, I'd recommend against random supplementation where it can be avoided. If you have a doctor and have concerns, you'd be well served to discuss them before starting, as there are dozens to hundreds of other issues that can cause similar issues, including seasonal depression for those feeling sad and tired in winter. Vitamin D is one of the 4 major vitamins (along with A, E, and K) which is able to build up in toxic quantities in the body from excessive intake, and while this requires taking a lot of it, it's a possibility that shouldn't be ignored when you're considering your overall health plan
lornstar7 t1_iy3dafd wrote
Alright. I'll bite. What is your justification for taking vitamin D for tiredness AND Sleeplessness?