Vitamin D Deficiency and Sleep Quality in Minority Pregnant Women

Abstract

Purpose: To examine if vitamin D deficiency was associated with poor sleep quality in a sample of African American and Hispanic pregnant women. We also examined if race moderates the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and sleep quality among participants in this sample. Study Design and Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a sample of 115 African American and Hispanic pregnant women were enrolled from a federally qualified health center in the Midwest. Women completed questionnaires and had blood drawn for serum 25(OH)D levels between 24- and 32 weeks gestation. The questionnaires included demographic characteristics, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and dietary vitamin D and calcium intake. Results: The overall regression model indicated that the predictors explained 17% of variance in sleep quality (F (5, 103) = 4.10, p = .002, R 2 = 0.17). Serum 25(OH)D levels were significant predictors of sleep quality after controlling for covariates (i.e., race, maternal age, prepregnancy body mass index, gestational age at data collection). Race did not moderate the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and sleep quality among women in this sample. Clinical Implications: Pregnant women should be screened for vitamin D deficiency. Women who have vitamin D deficiency should be provided vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D supplementation may be a simple solution to enhance sleep quality at this critical time in a woman's life.

Changes in Sleep Patterns during Pregnancy and Predictive Factors: A Longitudinal Study in Saudi Women

“…There are few published studies on the association between poor sleep quality and serum vitamin D levels in the general population [37,[59][60][61]. To date, there have been only four studies investigating the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and sleep quality during pregnancy, but the measurements were restricted to only one time point, providing no insight into changes throughout pregnancy [33,38,40]. In a cross-sectional study by Cheng et al involving 890 Singaporean pregnant women in their second trimester (26-28 weeks), plasma 25(OH)D deficiency was found to be associated with a three-fold increase in the chance of poor sleep quality (PSQI greater than 5), (OR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.84-6.63) [33].…”

“…A recent meta-analysis, in which two of the nine included studies examined pregnant women, found that vitamin D deficiency was associated with a 1.5-times increased chance of women experiencing poor sleep quality, short sleep duration, and sleepiness [37]. To our knowledge, limited studies have evaluated the association between vitamin D levels and sleep patterns in a pregnant population [33,[38][39][40]. Such studies were conducted in the second or third trimester and did not provide insights into the presence or type of sleep disturbances in early pregnancy, nor did they evaluate changes in sleep patterns throughout pregnancy.…”

Associations between Pregnancy-Related Symptoms, Serum 25(OH)D, and Physical Quality of Life in Pregnant Women

“…Physical symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep quality, musculoskeletal pains, and urinary incontinence are more common during pregnancy due to the physiological changes of the body [ 4 ]. These symptoms have also been associated with vitamin D deficiency [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…In a study with pregnant women ( n = 292) and non-pregnant women healthy controls ( n = 200), the researchers found that the risk of poor sleep increased more than two-fold in the second trimester which also correlated with poor quality of life [ 15 ]. Most recently, it was reported that vitamin D may be a significant predictor of poor sleep quality in pregnant women [ 8 ]. A study with 115 pregnant African American and Hispanic women (24–32 weeks gestation) found that lower serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly associated with worse sleep quality [ 8 ].…”

“…Most recently, it was reported that vitamin D may be a significant predictor of poor sleep quality in pregnant women [ 8 ]. A study with 115 pregnant African American and Hispanic women (24–32 weeks gestation) found that lower serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly associated with worse sleep quality [ 8 ].…”