4 Ways Vitamin D Deficiency Might Be Affecting Your Mood.

Here’s how vitamin D deficiency might be affecting your mood, energy, and sleep—especially in the winter months:

Serotonin and Mood

Vitamin D is crucial for serotonin production, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter. Low serotonin levels are linked to depressive symptoms and irritability. Research shows serotonin synthesis is higher during sunny months, so deficiency in winter could dampen your mood significantly.

Fatigue

Vitamin D supports mitochondrial energy production. Without it, your cells struggle to generate energy efficiently, leaving you feeling tired even with enough rest. Persistent fatigue could signal low levels.

Anxiety and Stress Response

Vitamin D helps regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls your stress response. A deficiency can amplify your response to stress, leading to feelings of unease, tension, and even panic.

Sleep Disruption

Vitamin D aids melatonin regulation, essential for sleep-wake cycles. Deficiency can delay melatonin production, causing trouble falling asleep, poor sleep quality, and daytime drowsiness. Over time, this sleep disruption impacts mood and cognitive function.

Boosting vitamin D through supplementation, vitamin D-rich foods (like fortified cereals, eggs, and fatty fish), or sunlight exposure (when possible) could improve energy, stabilise mood, and help you sleep better.