Written by Jessica Patella, ND. The study results concluded that lower serum folic acid levels were associated with higher risk of severe difficulty in falling asleep in American adults.
Insomnia is defined as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or early waking, which happens at least three times a week within a one-month period1,2. Insomnia is estimated to affect up to 50% of adults globally1,3. The side effects of not getting adequate sleep can lead to an increase in mental health problems, addiction, and cardiovascular disease1. Recent research found that participants with lower levels of folic acid experienced more difficulty in falling asleep, while those with higher levels of folic acid had less difficulty falling asleep1.
Folic acid is a B vitamin that is primarily used in pre-natal supplements for proper neurodevelopment within fetal development. In adults, folic acid has been shown to help produce neurotransmitters and DNA, as well as, play a role in cell division1,4. Preliminary studies have looked at the correlation between folic acid and insomnia but the findings are inconsistent1. Therefore, the current researchers focused only on difficulty falling asleep.
Participants for the study were taken from the NHANES between 2005-2008. For the study severe difficulty falling asleep was defined as difficulty falling asleep over 15 times per month. Based on data available, a total of 8,926 participants (52% females, 48% males, 46.8 +/- 16.68 years) were included in the study1.
The findings were as follows:
- Of the cohort 7.65% had severe difficulty falling asleep.
- Of those with severe difficulty falling asleep, they had lower serum folic acid levels and were more likely to be female, have smoked, and had high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Higher serum total folic acid levels were associated with lower odds of severe difficulty falling asleep (OR=0.98; 95% CI 0.97-1.00)
Folic acid is needed for the body to make 5-HTP, which is a precursor to serotonin, which is a precursor to melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone in the brain that regulates falling asleep, which could explain why lower levels of folic acid are associated with severe difficulty in falling asleep1. Other researchers have also found folic acid can influence circadian rhythms, another possible reason for the correlation observed in this study1,5.
In conclusion, lower serum folic acid levels were associated with higher risk of severe difficulty in falling asleep in American adults. These findings were especially in women, with a positive smoking history, high blood pressure or diabetes. Researchers stated that supplementing folic acid should be considered in those with severe difficulty in falling asleep1. Future research should consider a double-blind procedure so the cause can be specifically linked to folic acid levels, along with determining proper supplement amounts1.
Source: An, Haoyu, Qiyun Xue, and Jingyi Zhang. “The association between serum total folic acid concentration and severe difficulty falling asleep in US adults: NHANES 2005–2008.” Frontiers in Neurology 14 (2023).
© 2023 An, Xue and Zhang. This is an openaccess article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction
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Posted December 4, 2023.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- An H, Xue Q, Zhang J. The association between serum total folic acid concentration and severe difficulty falling asleep in US adults: NHANES 2005-2008. Front Neurol. 2023;14:1225403. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1225403
- Sateia MJ. International classification of sleep disorders-third edition: highlights and modifications. Chest. Nov 2014;146(5):1387-1394. doi:10.1378/chest.14-0970
- Ohayon MM. Epidemiology of insomnia: what we know and what we still need to learn. Sleep Med Rev. Apr 2002;6(2):97-111. doi:10.1053/smrv.2002.0186
- Neurock M, Janik M, Wieckowski A. A first principles comparison of the mechanism and site requirements for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and formic acid over Pt. Faraday Discuss. 2008;140:363-78; discussion 417-37. doi:10.1039/b804591g
- Röjdmark S. Influence of short-term fasting on the pituitary-testicular axis in normal men. Horm Res. 1987;25(3):140-6. doi:10.1159/000180645
