ABSTRACT
Objective
This study aimed to assess the association between vitamin D and sleep health and to investigate whether depression could mediate this relationship.
Methods
A cross-sectional analysis was performed using the 2005–2014 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. The logistic regression models were conducted to evaluate association of serum vitamin D concentrations with sleep health and depression. Mediation analyses were conducted to investigate the mediated effects of depression on the association of vitamin D with sleep health.
Results
In multivariate logistic models, vitamin D was found to be negatively associated with an increased risk of poor sleep health, with an odds ratio (OR) of vitamin D deficiency versus sufficiency was 1.256 (95% CI = 1.084–1.455). Additionally, univariate logistic models showed that vitamin D was also negatively associated with depression risk (vitamin D deficiency vs. sufficiency: OR = 1.699, 95% CI = (1.373–2.103). Further mediation analyses showed that the association of vitamin D with sleep health was mediated by depression, with the mediating effects of depression accounted for 44.56% of the total effects.
Conclusion
Vitamin D affects sleep health directly and indirectly through depression. The results suggest that interventions increasing intake of vitamin D should be prioritized to promote sleep health of persons with or at risk of depression.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Availability of data and materials
The data used in this study are publicly available as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is distributed and sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm).
Ethics approval
The work presented in this manuscript is not considered human subjects research because it used only de-identified, publicly available data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and is therefore not subject to IRB review.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Jingliang Shuai
Jingliang Shuai is a master student with a background in the School of Public Health. The major is Epidemiology and Health Statistics. The research directions include birth cohort research, health data management and evaluation, community health service research, and the application of comprehensive evaluation in medicine.
Mengqi Gao
Mengqi Gao is the master student with a background in the School of Public Health. The major is Nutrition and food hygiene. The main research direction is epidemiological research and mechanism exploration on the relationship between nutritional diet and health.
Qi Zou
Qi Zou is a doctor with a background in the School of Public Health. The major is Public Health. The main research direction is epidemiological based detection and early warning of pathogenic microorganisms.
Youming He
Youming He is a master student with a background in the School of Public Health. The major is Epidemiology and Health Statistics. The main research direction is epidemiological research and mechanism exploration on the relationship between nutritional diet and health.