Best Vitamins For Sleep – Top Nutrients To Fall Asleep Fast

Did you know vitamin and mineral deficiency can cause long-term sleeplessness and other sleep-related problems? If gadgets and gizmos haven’t made you sleep better, perhaps a quality supplement can. But with so many to choose from, how do you decide which ones to pick? To make the task easier, we’ve outlined some of the best vitamins for sleep below and provide you with relevant information about vitamins and sleep.

What Are the Best Vitamins for Sleep?

While there are several types of vitamins that aid sleep, we’ve identified seven key ones to help get you started:

Melatonin – One of the most studied natural sleep aids, melatonin supplements increase the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep and wake cycles. As such, it’s one of the best supplements to combat insomnia and jet lag (read our detailed article about melatonin here).

Magnesium – If muscle conditions like restless leg syndrome, twitches, and cramps prevent you from sleeping, magnesium may be the answer. Known as a powerful relaxant, magnesium is also one of the best ways to calm the central nervous system when gripped by anxiety or depression (read our detailed article about magnesium here).

Iron – A vital mineral, iron deficiency (anemia) can lead to muscle-related conditions like restless leg syndrome, tingling, and numbness, making sleep a challenge.

Potassium – Do you have difficulty staying asleep through the night? If so, you may be potassium deficient (hypokalemia) in which case a potassium supplement may help. Additionally, this mineral acts as an effective muscle and nerve relaxant. Research also suggests potassium has a direct link to slow-wave sleep — the deepest phase of a normal sleep cycle (source).

Vitamin B6 – This vitamin stimulates the production of serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter known for its calming properties. It also helps increase the cortisol awakening response, making it easier to wake up in the mornings.

Vitamin B12 – If you experience neuropathic symptoms like burning sensations or tingling in the hands and feet especially at night, vitamin B12 may give you a more restful sleep. It also plays an important part in melatonin production, the “sleep hormone” discussed above.

Vitamin D – Do you have trouble sleeping more than five hours per night? If so, you may be vitamin D deficient (hypovitaminosis D) in which case a quality vitamin D supplement may help. Furthermore, vitamin D can help alleviate muscle and bones aches, both of which may affect sleep.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Vitamins for Sleep?

Each vitamin and mineral discussed above affect both sleep quantity and quality. From relaxing muscles and alleviating neuropathic pain to calming the mind and regulating sleep cycles, the right combination of vitamins and minerals can make a dramatic, positive impact on sleep. But there are downsides…

Since most supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA and don’t include warnings about excessive use, customers naturally assume they’re harmless. But overloading the body with sleep supplements like melatonin night after night may affect hormonal development and other natural body cycles (source). That’s why it’s always best to consult your physician first about these matters.

How to Choose the Best Vitamins for Sleep

Look for a seal of approval – When evaluating a supplement, look for credible scientific and medical research backing. While not a deal breaker, it’s still a good way to gauge effectiveness and find out the right dosage for your sleep-related issue.

Select a high-quality vitamin and the right form – Vitamin and mineral supplements sometimes come in many forms. For example, magnesium sells as magnesium chloride, sulfate, taurate, citrate, glycinate, and others. Each of these compounds absorbs differently in the body and have different therapeutic purposes. Additionally, vitamins derived from pure and natural sources tend to be more effective than clinically prepared ones. To take out the guesswork, we’ve included reviews of seven quality sleep supplements below.

Determine the best way to take supplements and understand dosages – With regard to sleep ingredients and dosages, more isn’t always better. It’s more sensible to go with a lower dose supplement promising higher performance than the other way around. Also, people with digestive problems and/or the inability to swallow pills may have to consider oral sprays, liquid supplements, and topical methods instead.

Check out cost and availability – Ideally, sleep vitamins should be inexpensive and readily available. Watch out for ineffective counterfeits which tend to be cheaper than the original.

Reviews of the Best Vitamins for Sleep

Natrol Melatonin Fast Dissolve Tablets, Helps You Fall Asleep Faster

• Get Enough Sleep: Sleep enhances immune defense and a lack of it can affect the immune system; Studies have shown how people who dont get enough sleep have a higher risk of illness, and it can also impact the time it takes for the body to recover
• Sleep Strengthens Your Immune System: Research has shown the importance of sleep in strengthening your immune system, improving mental sharpness, maintaining balanced moods and so much more; Natrol Melatonin is a solution for occasional sleeplessness
• Drug Free: Natrol Melatonin is a nighttime sleep aid that assists with occasional sleeplessness; It is non-habit forming, so you can use it with confidence whenever you need to adjust your internal clock; Plus its vegetarian
• Fast Dissolve Tablets: Natrol’s unique fast dissolve strawberry formula enables faster absorption that can be taken anytime, anywhere; No water needed

Check Price on Amazon

This fast-acting, vegan-friendly product allows you to fall asleep quickly soon after taking it (within 20 minutes or so) and its time-released formula keeps you asleep through the night. Apart from melatonin, it also includes vitamin B6, which enhances the effectiveness of melatonin.

Natrol melatonin tablets are among the best melatonin supplements on the market today, with the majority of consumers clearly satisfied.

KAL Magnesium Glycinate Tablets

KAL Magnesium Glycinate is designed to help relax muscles and ease restlessness, providing you with a better night’s sleep. Each tablet contains 400mg of natural magnesium in the form of magnesium glycinate — arguably the best form to induce calm (source). A daily regimen of two tablets per day can prepare you for a restful night.

KAL is a well received brand and their magnesium supplement is no exception.

Nature’s Bounty Iron

Nature’s Bounty Iron 65mg, 325 mg Ferrous Sulfate

• A NECESSARY COMPONENT OF HEMOGLOBIN Iron is a necessary component of hemoglobin; the oxygen carrier responsible for delivering oxygen to the cells; including muscle cells (1); Nature’s Bounty Iron helps promote normal red blood cell production (1)
• HELPS MAINTAIN ENERGY UTILIZATION (1) Iron supports energy utilization; helping you to feel your best (1)
• SUPPORTS WOMEN’S HEALTH (1) Everyone needs Iron; but pregnancy and menstruation may increase Iron requirements; Often recommended as a mineral supplement for women; Nature’s Bounty Iron offers the daily nutritional support you need (1)
• NECESSARY FOR OVERALL HEALTH Taking a daily Iron supplement with Ferrus Sulfate helps provide your body with the iron it needs for daily functioning (1)

Check Price on Amazon

Nature’s Bounty Iron supplements are made of FoodState C vitamins, organic oranges from Uncle Matt and beetroot from Stahlbush Island Farms — all fresh and natural blood nourishing ingredients inspected and approved by a team of scientists at the University of New Hampshire. Furthermore, it’s mineral-bound yeast formula makes it easy to digest.

If common iron-deficient conditions like restless leg syndrome prevent you from falling asleep, a quality iron supplement like the Nature’s Bounty Iron brand may help.

Country Life Potassium Tablets

Country Life Potassium 99 Mg, 250-Count

• Regulates nerve signals from the brain and spinal column to muscles
• Promotes healthy neuromuscular function.
• High-quality nutrition, specifically crafted with the high quality standards to support your health.
• Enhances muscle strength, metabolism and water balance
• Contains no dairy, soy, wheat, gluten, egg, shellfish, tree nuts and is Non-

Check Price on Amazon

Country Life potassium tablets help boost potassium levels in the body, relaxing muscles and nerves for a restful night’s sleep. This vegetarian and gluten-free supplement also aids digestion and circulation for better overall health.

Country Life is a reputable brand with excellent customer reviews across their entire product line, including this potassium supplement.

Solgar Vitamin B6 Tablets

Solgar Vitamin B6 25 mg, 100 Tablets

• Along with folic acid and B12, B6 promotes heart health by supporting healthy levels of homocysteine
• Product Note: Exposure to heat or sunlight may lead to melting/damage of product. Hence customers are expected to be available during the product delivery
• Plays an integral role in the production of red blood cells
• Suitable for Vegetarians

Check Price on Amazon

In addition to helping maintain a healthy metabolism, these all-natural, vegan-friendly vitamin B6 tablets raise serotonin levels, which induces sleepiness. Plus, its high solubility helps the B6 absorb quickly into the bloodstream.

The only noticeable downside of the Solgar Vitamin B6 supplement is tablet size, which may be too large for some people to swallow. Otherwise, this B6 supplement is a solid choice.

Jarrow Formulas Methyl B12 Lozenges

Jarrow Formulas Maximum Strength Methyl B-12 5000 mcg

• Bioactive B12 - Jarrow Formulas Methyl B-12 (methylcobalamin) is the biologically active coenzyme form of vitamin B12. It is a biologically active form of vitamin B12 that helps support cellular energy function, sleep, mood, and maintains brain health.
• Clinical studies show methyl B12 supplementation can be useful for vitamin B12 deficient people, especially vegetarians, vegans, and people over 50.
• Better Recognized & Delivered - Methyl B-12 is naturally recognized by the body, so it’s delivered to your cells more effectively to support your body’s natural cellular energy production.
• Convenient Chewable Tablet - Each cherry-flavored chewable tablet delivers 5000 micrograms (mcg) of methyl B-12. Contains no wheat, gluten, soybeans, dairy, egg, fish/shellfish, or peanuts/tree nuts, or sesame.

Check Price on Amazon

Among other benefits, the Jarrow Formula Vitamin B12 lozenges increase and speed up the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for aiding sleep. It also helps alleviate neuropathy which can cause insomnia and other sleep-related issues.

These chewable lozenges feature several natural flavors including lemon, cherry, and tropical. Its highly soluble nature delivers vitamin B12 efficiently into the bloodstream and works fast.

NatureWise Vitamin D3 Soft Gels

Naturewise Vitamin D3 is a non-GMO, gluten-free, olive oil-based supplement that helps relieve common sleep disruptors, namely muscle and bone aches. This product can also help those suffering from insufficient sleep due to vitamin D deficiency.

These softgels are easy to swallow and digest with no perceivable aftertaste. Tested and verified by a third party, this supplement is a winner.

Conclusion

While this article discusses several best vitamins for sleep, we recommend limiting yourself to one initially to gauge your body’s reaction. Melatonin should be on top of your list as it’s most directly linked to sleep and the Natrol Melatonin Tablets are a good place to start. If don’t see results after several days, try the KAL Magnesium Glycinate Tablets, followed by the others. Stay persistent and you’ll find what works for you!

Now Over to You!

What are your thoughts about using vitamins for sleep? Leave your comments below!