It is linked to Restless Leg Syndrome symptoms including low-quality sleep, increased pain perception, and nocturnal restlessness. 

VDD in children has been associated with decreased sleep time, sleep efficacy, and delayed bedtimes. It also leads to pain hypersensitivity by modulating the opiate signaling system, which is important for children with ASD.

There is also a link to depression and autism.

Cedarville University

Clinically, vitamin D deficiency is defined as having circulating 25(OH)D concentrations < 20 ng/mL.  Approximately one billion people worldwide fit into this category.  Vitamin D deficiency is associated with geographic location, as people who live further from the equator have less sunlight exposure.  Darker complected skin has been shown to reduce the ability of UV-B radiation to synthesize vitamin D in the skin.  Additionally, advanced age decreases the ability of skin to synthesize the vitamin.  

Vitamin D Deficiency

Silvestri, R., & Ipsiroglu, O. S. (2022). Behavioral sleep medicine-The need for harmonization of clinical best practice outcome measures in children and adolescents with intellectual or developmental disabilities and restless sleep. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 1003019. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1003019

Behavioral sleep medicine—The need for harmonization of clinical best practice outcome measures in children and adolescents with intellectual or developmental disabilities and restless sleep

Vitamin D is both a paracrine (cell-to-cell) and autocrine (self) signaling molecule.  All cells in the immune system either express vitamin D receptors or have the ability to.  Additionally, they are all sensitive to the activity of its biologically active counterpart 1,25(OH)2D.  Vitamin D deficiency may weaken the body's control of immune responses and impair other physiological processes that involve vitamin D, including regulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS).  Therefore, these phenomena may make the body more susceptible to a SARS-CoV-2 infection.  

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