Billions affected by sleep disorders
Dr. Gominak estimates billions of people worldwide have abnormal sleep, with sleep study centers in every electrified country publishing abnormal findings.
Snapshot · The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Vitamin D Expert: The Supplement World Is Giving The WRONG Advice!
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Jul 27, 2026
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How Vitamin D Could Be The Missing Piece For Better Sleep
At 20:22 · chapter starts 15:15
With the brainstem anatomy established, Dr. Gominak turns to chemistry. What chemical is the brainstem lacking that prevents it from executing normal REM sleep? She zeroes in on acetylcholine — the neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system. Unlike adrenaline and noradrenaline, which have drug analogues, there are no drugs that replicate acetylcholine. But there is a pathway: vitamin D binds to a receptor inside the nucleus of brainstem cells, activating DNA to express a specific protein — an enzyme called choline acetyltransferase — which in turn synthesises acetylcholine. Lose vitamin D, lose the enzyme, lose the neurotransmitter, lose the ability to enter REM sleep. She contextualises the scale of the problem: sunscreen, computers, and air conditioning all became mainstream in the 1980s. In her class of 300 teenagers before that era, only two were overweight. The diseases now epidemic — ADHD, depression, non-alcoholic fatty liver, rising diabetes — all first appeared or spiked in that same decade. She frames this as a chemical deficiency state created by an indoor civilisation, not a moral failing of individuals.
Sunscreen & air conditioning arrived in 1980s
Sunscreen, computers, and air conditioning all became widespread in the 1980s, triggering the vitamin D deficiency epidemic by keeping people indoors and blocking UV exposure.
The 1980s: When the Sleep Epidemic Began
Sunscreen, air conditioning, and computers all went mainstream in the 1980s. At the same time, ADHD, depression, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and rising diabetes rates were first reported. Dr. Gominak says these aren't coincidences — they're the same story.
Vitamins Are Just As Dangerous As Drugs
Vitamins are a form of biohacking — and if you take them without understanding the underlying biochemistry, bad things will happen. The same outcome you were trying to fix can get worse.
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