Vitamin D Expert: Is Vitamin D Deficiency Ruining Your Sleep, and Is Supplement Advice Wrong?

TL;DR

Vitamin D deficiency may disrupt brain chemistry so severely that the brain “forgets” how to sleep, according to neurologist Dr. Stasha Gominak. She argues that supplements are not equivalent to being outdoors, can be dangerous when used without sufficient knowledge, and overlook sleep disorders linked to the gut microbiome. Her RightSleep protocol focuses on vitamin deficiencies and brain chemistry rather than behavioral sleep advice. Read on to understand her evidence and approach.

Transcript

The vitamin world is giving the wrong advice. For instance, if you do not know what you're doing with them, they're just as dangerous as any drug you could put in your mouth. The next thing is supplementing with vitamin D is not the same as being outdoors [music] because we absorb it through our skin. But what we've been told is don't ever let the ... Read More

Key Insights

• Vitamin D is best produced by the skin and cannot be fully replaced by supplements or diet.
• Insomnia is often due to chemical deficiencies rather than behavioral issues.
• Gut bacteria play a crucial role in producing B vitamins, which are essential for sleep and overall health.
• Taking vitamin D supplements without proper knowledge can deplete B vitamins, leading to other health issues.
• The rise in conditions like ADHD, depression, and diabetes may be linked to vitamin D deficiency.
• Supplements can be as risky as drugs if not taken correctly, requiring careful monitoring.
• Dr. Gominak's RightSleep protocol focuses on restoring vitamin D and B vitamin levels to improve sleep.
• Spending more time outdoors can naturally boost vitamin D levels and improve health.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can vitamin D deficiency affect sleep?

Dr. Stasha Gominak says that when people are deficient in vitamin D, the brain can forget how to sleep. She links poor sleep to abnormal brain chemistry and vitamin deficiencies that may develop from spending too much time indoors.

Q: Why does Dr. Gominak say common vitamin D advice is wrong?

She argues that supplementing with vitamin D is not the same as being outdoors because vitamin D is absorbed through the skin. She also warns that supplements can be as dangerous as drugs when people use them without knowing what they are doing.

Q: Is taking vitamin D supplements the same as getting vitamin D outdoors?

No, according to Dr. Gominak. She says outdoor exposure allows vitamin D to be absorbed through the skin, so taking a supplement does not reproduce the same process.

Q: Why might behavioral sleep advice fail for some people?

Common recommendations include blackout curtains, white noise, consistent bedtimes, and treating the bedroom as a quiet place for sleep. Dr. Gominak says the patients who reach her have usually tried those approaches already, so she investigates brain chemistry and vitamin deficiencies instead.

Q: What is the RightSleep protocol?

The RightSleep protocol is Dr. Gominak’s step-based approach to improving sleep by addressing brain chemistry. Existing page materials describe it as focusing on restoring appropriate vitamin D and B-vitamin levels rather than treating sleep solely as a behavioral problem.

Q: How are sleep disorders connected to the gut microbiome?

Dr. Gominak says most sleep disorders are linked to the gut microbiome. Existing page materials explain that gut bacteria help produce B vitamins, which she considers important for sleep and overall health.

Q: What led Dr. Gominak to investigate sleep problems?

While practicing neurology, a young, thin patient with persistent headaches requested a sleep study and was found to have sleep apnea. After using a CPAP device, the patient returned two months later with her headaches gone, prompting Dr. Gominak to investigate sleep more deeply.

Q: What experience does Dr. Gominak have with sleep patients?

She estimates that she worked directly with about 200 patients before leaving neurology practice. As an online sleep coach, she estimates that her workbook and step-based program affected another 5 to 6,000 people.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Stasha Gominak highlights the dangers of improper vitamin D supplementation, which can deplete essential B vitamins and worsen health issues. She emphasizes the importance of producing vitamin D naturally through skin exposure to sunlight, as supplements and diet alone are insufficient.

• Insomnia and other health problems are linked to chemical deficiencies rather than behavioral issues, according to Dr. Gominak. Her RightSleep protocol aims to restore balance by ensuring adequate levels of vitamin D and B vitamins, which are crucial for sleep and overall health.

• The rise in modern health conditions like ADHD and depression may be connected to vitamin D deficiency, as people spend more time indoors. Dr. Gominak advocates for a holistic approach to health, combining natural vitamin D production with careful supplementation to address deficiencies.