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Vitamin D And Fatigue

Low levels of vitamin D and fatigue have long been linked to each other, yet many people still refuse to acknowledge that serious conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome can be either caused or averted simply by adjusting your intake of a widely available vitamin. This may sound unrealistic to some people, but it becomes a lot more believable when you realize that studies suggest between 35 and 40 percent of adults are vitamin D deficient.

When speaking to people who had a vitamin D deficiency, most had allowed it to develop because they just saw no reason to go out of their way to include it in their diet. This then only gets worse in people who develop fatigue, as two of the primary symptoms of the condition are lethargy and depression, both of which give people a sense that there is nothing they can do to rectify the issue and create a vicious cycle.

That is why we decided to create the following guide and show people exactly how vitamin D and fatigue are linked. This should give you all of the information and motivation that you need to get your levels up, cure your fatigue, and ensure you never get low on vitamin D again.

Table of Contents

What Is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is an essential, fat-soluble vitamin also known as both cholecalciferol and “the sunshine vitamin”. It is necessary in order for numerous vital functions within the human body to take place, and clinical trials show that the average person needs to get at least 10 to 20 mcg of vitamin D a day if they want to keep their body fully healthy and functioning at an optimal level (1).

Widely available in foods, drinks, and supplements, increasing your intake of vitamin D offers an incredible range of health benefits, like a reduction in inflammation and the risk of getting sick, improved bone, brain, heart, and immune system health and function, better testosterone and energy levels and production, enhanced male sexual health, muscle strength, bone density, and blood sugar levels, and the ability to help combat depression and many other health issues.

This article focuses on the ability of vitamin D to reduce inflammation, but for anyone who is interested in learning more about the other health benefits that it can offer, we previously published two articles detailing all of them, which you can read here and here.

What Is Fatigue?

Many people often mistake fatigue for simply feeling tired, but that is just not the case. While the two things are related, fatigue is a far more serious, potentially chronic issue.

The word fatigue refers to a state of physical or mental exhaustion that usually results from prolonged exertion, stress, or a lack of rest. It can manifest as a feeling of extreme tiredness, weakness, or a lack of energy, which may affect one’s ability to perform even simple tasks or think clearly. Fatigue can be caused by a variety of factors, including things like physical activity, a poor sleep schedule, illness, or emotional stress (2).

Vitamin D And Fatigue: How Does Vitamin D Combat Fatigue?

Boosts Energy Levels

Vitamin D is involved in regulating various bodily functions, including energy production, with low levels of vitamin D having been linked to feelings of tiredness and fatigue in many people. Vitamin D’s ability to raise energy levels is down to a range of factors, the most notable of which are it improving the function of the mitochondria, which are the part of the cells responsible for converting stored fat into energy, and supporting a better hormonal balance.

By supporting optimal energy levels, vitamin D can help reduce tiredness and prevent fatigue from setting in, while helping to reverse it if it already has (3).

Regulates Sleep

Vitamin D also boosts your energy levels and combats fatigue by helping you sleep better. It achieves this primarily by improving your circadian rhythm and production of the hormone melatonin. This combination of effects will enable you to fall asleep much faster, achieve a deeper, more restful level of sleep, stay asleep longer, wake up feeling alert and refreshed, and maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.

Its positive effect on sleep is then furthered by its ability to prevent or reduce sleep disturbances, pain, and inflammation, and improve your mood, muscle relaxation, and overall mental health, all of which make sleeping and avoiding fatigue significantly easier (4).

How to Improve Your Sleep Quality

Supports The Immune System

Vitamin D plays a vital role in immune system health. It regulates the activation, function, and production of key immune cells and antimicrobial peptides that are essential in detecting and responding to pathogens and health issues, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress and damage, prevents autoimmune diseases that damage the body from within, and lowers the risk of certain illnesses that can cause immune system issues.

If your immune system is compromised, your body may experience fatigue as it fights off infections. Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels can support the immune system, reducing the likelihood of chronic fatigue caused by immune system overwork (5).

Improves Mood

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with mood disorders, including depression, which is a common cause of fatigue. Upping your vitamin D intake improves your mood by enhancing brain health and functions and the production of mood-regulating chemicals like the neurotransmitter serotonin and dopamine, and by reducing or preventing inflammation, particularly of the brain cells.

By helping to regulate mood and motivation and combat the symptoms of depression, vitamin D can indirectly reduce feelings of fatigue. It then also appears to be particularly useful for combatting a type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is heavily linked to fatigue (6).

Learn about Vitamin D and Anxiety here

Enhances Muscle Function

Vitamin D supports muscle health, function, and strength primarily by aiding calcium absorption, which is essential for muscle contractions to occur. It then also stimulates muscle protein synthesis, which is required for the muscles to function properly, and prevents weakness in both the muscles and the bones that they are attached to.

As inadequate vitamin D levels can lead to muscle weakness and discomfort, both of which contribute to fatigue, keeping your levels up will help keep fatigue at bay (7).

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