Many people experience disruptions to their sleep patterns. There may be numerous reasons for this, but one expert says that failure to get adequate amounts of certain key vitamins and minerals may play an important role.

Dr. Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders, recently wrote on his blog, The Insomnia Blog, that B vitamins and vitamin D can play important roles in supporting a healthy sleep pattern.

B vitamins are critical, as they have been shown to be central to the body's ability to produce serotonin. This neurotransmitter has a number of responsibilities in the body, and one of them is regulating wakefulness and sleepiness.

Vitamin D is important to a person's ability to get to sleep at night because adequate levels help people remain wakeful during the day, Dr. Breaus wrote. This helps them avoid taking naps, which may throw off their ability to sleep well through the night.

While there may be some evidence linking vitamin B12 to support for healthy sleep patterns, the Mayo Clinic States that more research could help firm up the link.