Serum vitamin D concentrations and sleep disorders: insights from NHANES 2011–2016 and Mendelian Randomization analysis

Abstract Objective This investigation seeks to examine the association between serum vitamin D concentrations and the prevalence of sleep disorders, additionally elucidating the causal relationship via Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis. Materials and methods This research employed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2016, focusing on adults aged 20–50 years reporting sleep disorders. The research encompassed 4913 American adults. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models and cubic spline analyses were utilized to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D concentrations and the incidence of sleep disorders. Additionally, a two-sample Mendelian Randomization analysis was performed to evaluate the potential causal link between serum vitamin D concentrations and the risk of sleep disorders. Results Within the 2011–2016 NHANES cohort of the U.S. population, a notable inverse association was detected between serum vitamin D concentrations and sleep disorders ( β = − 3.81, 95% CI: − 6.10 to − 1.52, p = 0.003). After multivariate adjustments, a higher incidence of sleep disorders was associated with lower vitamin D Concentrations (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.10–2.10, trend p = 0.014). Restricted cubic spline regression analysis indicated a linear association between serum vitamin D concentrations and sleep disorders(non-linearity p > 0.05). Lastly, the two-sample MR analysis yielded evidence supporting a potential causal connection between serum vitamin D concentrations and sleep disorders, with each unit increase in genetically predicted serum vitamin D reducing the odds ratio to 0.78 (95% CI 0.61–0.99, p = 0.044). Conclusions These results imply that lower vitamin D concentrations in the population might correlate with a heightened risk of sleep disorders, suggesting the importance of considering vitamin D supplementation when treating sleep disorders.