Supplements for Sleep Apnea: 4 Supplements to Try

Sleep apnea is normally a chronic situation where you stop breathing periodically throughout the night due to the airway not remaining open as it should.

This condition is not just jarring for anyone listening to you while you sleep, but it can cause symptoms during your waking life as well.

Sleep apnea may lead to fatigue, exhaustion, morning headaches, reduced concentration, frequent urination, night sweats, dry mouth in the morning, increased heart rate, and frequently waking up during the night.

Some people are able to help reduce their sleep apnea symptoms by using a CPAP machine along with lifestyle changes and healthy choices. There is also a possibility of certain supplements aiding with the battle against sleep apnea symptoms, although they should not be a substitute for using a CPAP machine or any other treatments that your doctor recommends.

Always check with your doctor before starting on new supplements to make sure they are appropriate for you.

Below, we will review 4 supplements that are purported to potentially aid in reducing sleep apnea symptoms.

Read Related: CBN Cannabinoid Benefits: Sleep, Pain Relief, and More

1. N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

NAC is a supplement that has been studied in sleep apnea patients.

N-acetylcysteine supplements may aid in reducing the oxidative stress markers which develop due to the low oxygen levels that can occur with sleep apnea. Since these increased levels of oxidative stress may contribute to the endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disorders that commonly occur along with sleep apnea, keeping oxidation in check may help reduce the harm done. 

Ortho Molecular Products has a N-acetylcysteine supplement which contains 500mg of NAC in each capsule. You can purchase a 60 count bottle for $33 from Pharmedico Pharmacy, Here.

2. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Obstructive sleep apnea can cause oxidative damage to the tissues. And, studies have shown that in response to this oxidative damage, the body produces higher levels of antioxidants like CoQ10 to help out.

Because of this, some people with sleep apnea may decide to supplement with CoQ10 to give the body more antioxidant support.

Pure Encapsulations has a CoQ10 supplement which contains 60mg of CoQ10 in each capsule. You can purchase this supplement starting at $38 from Pharmedico Pharmacy, Here.

3. Vitamin C and Vitamin E

In animal models, rats that were treated with vitamins C and E before a simulated obstructive sleep apnea event were found to have reduced oxidative and carbonyl stress as compared to the rats that were not given vitamin treatments before the simulated sleep apnea event.

The positive effects seem here may occur due to the strong antioxidant nature of both vitamin C and vitamin E.

A colorful and balanced diet may help you increase your intake of Vitamin C and Vitamin E, but you may also want to look to supplements if your diet is not always the most nutritious.

The O.N.E. Multivitamin from Pure Encapsulations is a good general multi that contains Vitamin C and Vitamin E, as well as some Vitamin D and CoQ10 (two other supplements on this list). You can buy the O.N.E. Multivitamin from Pharmedico Pharmacy for only $21, Here.

4. Vitamin D

A 2017 review and meta-analysis study showed that there is an insufficiency of blood vitamin D levels in patients that have sleep apnea as compared to those that do not have sleep apnea. The severity of the sleep apnea also correlated with how low the vitamin D levels were.

And, while currently it is unclear whether the low vitamin D levels are a risk factor for developing sleep apnea or if sleep apnea is a risk factor for having low vitamin D levels, some people are choosing to supplement with vitamin D if they are dealing with sleep apnea.

It is normal for your doctor to regularly check in on your vitamin D levels to make sure they are in range. If you are unsure about your vitamin D levels, talk to your doctor to make sure they are adequate and how they recommend that you correct any deficiency discovered.

If you do have a deficiency, you will want to correct it as soon as possible. You can get Vitamin D3 supplements from Pure Encapsulations ranging from 1,000IU up to 10,000IU per capsule, depending on what strength your doctor suggests you use. You can buy these Vitamin D supplements from the Pharmedico Pharmacy website, Here.

Written by: Jill Barat, PharmD