(P19-002-23) Iron Deficiency and Vitamin D Deficiency Are Associated With Sleep in Women at Child-Bearing Age: An Analysis of NHANES 2005–2010 and 2015–2018 Data

Objectives: Sleep disturbance is a common public health issue that can affect quality of life. This study investigates the influence of iron deficiency and vitamin D deficiency, as the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies in the worldwide population, on the sleep health of women at childbearing age.

Methods: Two samples from NHANES 2005-2010 and 2015-2018 were used to examine the association of iron deficiency (ID), iron deficiency anemia (IDA), vitamin D deficiency (VDD), vitamin D inadequacy (VDI), and the joint association of both deficiencies with sleep duration, latency, and quality. These sleep outcomes were measured by a self-reported questionnaire. Blood biomarkers were used to determine subjects with ID/IDA and VDD/VDI. Logistic regression accounting for survey sample weights was used to evaluate the association between sleep and nutritional exposures, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results: ID and IDA were significantly associated with poor sleep quality, with 1.63 (95%CI: 1.16, 2.28) and 1.97 (95%CI; 1.20, 3.23) higher odds respectively, while VDD and VDI were significantly associated with insufficient sleep duration, with 1.29 (95%CI: 1.06, 1.58) and 1.26 (95%CI: 1.08, 1.47) higher odds respectively. Subjects with both nutritional deficiencies had significantly higher odds of poorer sleep quality and shorter sleep duration compared to subjects with neither condition. No associations were detected between ID/IDA or VDD/VDI and sleep latency.

Conclusions: Among women at childbearing age, ID/IDA and VDD/VDI deficiencies are associated with sleep health outcomes, suggesting a potential role of vitamin D and iron in maintenance of healthy sleep. The potential synergistic effect of both deficiencies warrants further assessment.

Funding Sources: Embassy of Sultanate of Oman-Cultural Division