Low Iron & Vitamin D Levels Are Linked To Sleeping Poorly, New Study Shows

There's a lot that can stand in your way to a good night's sleep. While screen use, noisy neighborhoods, or stuffy rooms may be some of the more obvious culprits, your nutritional status also plays a sneaky important role—especially for women. 

These findings align with past research. So going into this study, the researchers already knew that low levels of iron and vitamin D are detrimental to sleep. 

For example, vitamin D is involved in the body's natural production of melatonin2 (the hormone that helps regulate your circadian rhythm, making you feel sleepy). And while low vitamin D can hurt your sleep, not sleeping enough3 can also worsen your vitamin D levels. It's a dangerous cycle. 

Several sleep concerns are also correlated with iron deficiency. Common side effects of iron deficiency (like dizziness, lightheadedness, and mood changes) can also impact sleep. 

Most women likely don't know their iron and vitamin D status. That's concerning because while iron deficiency anemia is rare in men, its prevalence is much higher in women, affecting about 9-12% of white women and nearly 20% of Black and Mexican American women. And low vitamin D levels are low across the board. About 29% of adults in the U.S. are deficient in the vitamin, and a whopping 41% are insufficient4. 

But the best blood markers of iron status (ferritin) and vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) aren't included in standard insurance-covered blood work. 

To raise these levels, make sure to include iron-rich foods in your diet (think animal proteins, soybeans, and spinach) and sources of vitamin D (like salmon, trout, and fortified milks). 

But for many people, diet alone isn't enough to move from insufficient to optimal levels of these nutrients (especially vitamin D), and adding a high-quality supplement to your day will be your best bet for making a meaningful difference. 

mindbodygreen formulated ultimate multivitamin+ with meaningful doses of both iron and vitamin D to help address these nutrient gaps.* Many people find iron supplements to be hard on the stomach, but each mineral included in ultimate multivitamin+ is in its most gentle and bioavailable form.* It's an easy daily solution to make sure you're getting the right amounts of the nutrients you need for health (and sleep).*