Does Vitamin C Keep You Awake?

Does Vitamin C keep you awake? Well majority of people take dietary supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, to fulfill nutritional gaps in their diet. Still, some people find that taking vitamins gets in the way of sleeping soundly.

This belief that vitamin C interferes with sleep came from a common warning label on food supplement boxes: “It is best not to take this medication late in the day because of its mildly stimulating effect.”.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects 10-15% of adults. People suffer from insomnia when they have difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep, or when they wake up too early and cannot go back to sleep.

There is some indication that low consumption of vitamins A, C, D, E, and K and the minerals calcium and magnesium is linked to sleep disruption. Taking supplements of certain vitamins can also lead to sleep disruption.

Do Vitamins Cause Insomnia?

There is not enough evidence to prove that vitamins cause insomnia. But then, some research has created a link between vitamins and an increase or decrease in a person’s quality of sleep.

But then, there are some vitamins that either lack or are in excess of the following, which can affect sleep:

1. Vitamin D

Here it plays a role in the pathways that regulate melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that regulates the sleep cycle of the body.

Vitamin D and melatonin have contrasting rhythms when produced in the skin through sun exposure, whereas the pineal gland predominantly produces melatonin at night.

There is not much scientific data on the effect of nighttime intake of vitamin D on sleep. Increasing levels of vitamin D using supplements can suppress the production of melatonin, leading to disturbed sleep. 

2. Vitamin B12

Research has stated the effect of vitamin B12 on sleep in conflicting manners. Some research says that high levels of vitamin B12 are linked to shorter sleep duration and a higher risk of insomnia. 

Other studies also show that it can also affect the 24-hour biological activities that lead a person from wakefulness to sleepiness and on to sleep.

It has been found that vitamin B12 increases had no impact on a person’s sleeping or waking activities. Vitamin B complex, when combined with magnesium and melatonin, can also improve

3. Vitamin C

This may have an effect on sleep quality and sleep duration. When comparing short and long sleepers, the people with the lowest vitamin C intake slept the least. In another study, long sleepers had high plasma levels of vitamin C.

There was also a relationship between low vitamin C intake and nonrestorative sleep, meaning a person did not feel rested during the day regardless of how many hours of sleep they received.

Researchers are still figuring out whether vitamin C supplements are beneficial for sleep. But some sleep research in cancer patients suggests that greater vitamin C intake can be beneficial for sleep health and even aid in insomnia symptoms.

4. Vitamin B6

The body needs vitamin B6 for metabolic and immune function processes. It also plays a role in synthesizing many neurotransmitters, including serotonin, which governs sleep patterns.

Earlier research states that vitamin B6 deficiencies can promote psychological distress, leading to sleep disturbances.

Vitamin B6 supplements can enhance sleep quality and duration. Research states it also enhances the recall of dream content in people.

What are the Causes of Insomnia?

Insomnia can be a disorder on its own or a symptom of other disorders. The reasons for insomnia can be:

• Stress
• disturbances to the internal body clock, due to travel or work requirements
• bad sleeping habits, like an irregular bedtime routine
• unhealthy lifestyle choices, like stimulating the brain late at night by watching video games
• late-night eating
• mental disorders, like depression and anxiety
• neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease
• neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• certain medications, such as those for depression, asthma, and high blood pressure
• sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome

Insomnia treatment will also address the cause. A doctor may recommend that an individual change their sleeping habits, handle stress, or treat underlying medical conditions.

If these behaviors do not improve sleep, a doctor may prescribe cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription sleep medicines.

Final Words

Researchers need to carry out more studies to determine whether vitamins are a reason for insomnia or not. But then, some studies show that either deficiencies or excessive amounts of certain vitamins impact sleep.

Insomnia has so many possible causes, and insomnia can also be a symptom of some other medical or health condition, such as depression.

Doctors treat insomnia depending on the cause and may order a mix of changes in lifestyle and sleep habits, CBT, and medication. People should call a doctor for advice if they regularly have trouble sleeping.