
Background: Vitamin D exerts multiple pleiotropic effects beyond its role in calcium-phosphate metabolism. Growing evidence suggests an association between hypovitaminosis D and sleep disorders, thus increasing the interest in the role of this vitamin in the regulatory mechanisms of the sleep-wake cycle. Objective: The study aimed to explore and summarize the current knowledge about the role of vitamin D in sleep regulation and the impact of vitamin D deficiency on sleep disorders. Methods: The main regulatory mechanisms of vitamin D on sleep are explained in this study. The literature was scanned to identify clinical trials and correlation studies showing an association between vitamin D deficiency and sleep disorders. Results: Vitamin D receptors and the enzymes that control their activation and degradation are expressed in several areas of the brain involved in sleep regulation. Vitamin D is also involved in the pathways of production of Melatonin, the hormone involved in the regulation of human circadian rhythms and sleep. Furthermore, vitamin D can affect sleep indirectly through non-specific pain disorders, correlated with alterations in sleep quality, such as restless legs syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Conclusions: : Vitamin D has both a direct and an indirect role in the regulation of sleep. Although vitamin D deficiency has been associated to sleep disorders, there is still scant evidence to concretely support the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention or treatment of sleep disturbances; indeed, more intervention studies are needed to better clarify these aspects.
Sleep Wake Disorders, Sun, Sleep disturbance, Sleep disorders, Vitamins, Vitamin D Deficiency, Sleep regulation, Vitamin, Humans, Sleep; Sleep disorders; Sleep disturbance; Sleep regulation; Sun; Vitamin; Vitamin D; Humans; Sleep; Vitamin D; Vitamins; Sleep Wake Disorders; Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin D, Sleep
Sleep Wake Disorders, Sun, Sleep disturbance, Sleep disorders, Vitamins, Vitamin D Deficiency, Sleep regulation, Vitamin, Humans, Sleep; Sleep disorders; Sleep disturbance; Sleep regulation; Sun; Vitamin; Vitamin D; Humans; Sleep; Vitamin D; Vitamins; Sleep Wake Disorders; Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin D, Sleep
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| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% |
