Serum Vitamin D, Sleep Pattern and Cardiometabolic Diseases: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVE: Although poor sleep health and vitamin D deficiency may be associated with diabetes and hypertension, whether this association shows a trend depending on vitamin D concentration is unclear. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 10,742 participants (4997 men) from the 2007–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Abnormal sleep pattern (ie, short sleep duration, sleep complaint, and/or sleep disorder), lifestyle factors, serum vitamin D level, and the status of diabetes and hypertension were assessed. Logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Serum vitamin D significantly interacted with short sleep duration and abnormal sleep pattern (both p = 0.003) on the association with diabetes in men. Short sleep duration (OR: 1.82, 95% CI = 1.29, 2.57) and abnormal sleep pattern (OR: 1.95, 95% CI = 1.38, 2.77) were associated with diabetes in men with serum vitamin D of >75 nmol/L. Serum vitamin D significantly interacted with sleep complaint on the association with hypertension in men and women (both p < 0.05). The magnitude of association between sleep complaint and hypertension in men was stronger when serum vitamin D level was <50 nmol/L (OR: 2.26, 95% CI = 1.57, 3.25) than when the level was >75 nmol/L (OR: 1.28, 95% CI = 0.90, 1.83). Similarly, the magnitude of association between sleep complaint and hypertension in women was stronger when serum vitamin D level was <50 nmol/L (OR: 2.09, 95% CI = 1.53, 2.86) than when the level was >75 nmol/L (OR: 1.64, 95% CI = 0.98, 2.72). No significant interactions were observed between serum vitamin D level and other sleep variables. CONCLUSION: Abnormal sleep pattern is associated with a high risk of diabetes and hypertension. The relationship between sleep complaint and hypertension may be strong in people with vitamin D deficiency, and this observation should be verified by prospective studies.