How does vitamin D3 help reduce the complications of sleep apnea?

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology found that vitamin D3 mitigates vascular and renal damage associated with obstructive sleep apnea. The experiment was conducted on 56 mice, in which intermittent hypoxia during sleep—the hallmark of obstructive sleep apnea—was induced. Some of these animals also suffered from a general vitamin D deficiency. Scientists administered varying doses of vitamin D3 to some of the mice for 14 days and evaluated the impact of these doses on endothelial function markers and renal tissue condition in the studied animals.

The researchers found that the combination of severe hypoxia and vitamin D deficiency caused distinct health disturbances in the experimental mice, including elevated markers of inflammation and vascular damage, a reduced level of nitric oxide required for normal vasodilation, and damage to the renal tubules. Administering vitamin D3 to the mice significantly reduced these complications, with the protective effect increasing as the vitamin dose increased.

The study’s authors noted that their findings are based on experiments conducted on laboratory mice but suggest the potential future benefit of vitamin D3 as a means to protect the kidneys and blood vessels in cases of obstructive sleep apnea.

Source: Linta.ro