Dietary Vitamin C Intake Is Significantly Associated with Reduced Risk of Sleep Disorders

by | Dec 12, 2024 | 2024, Recent Articles, Sleep, Vitamin C

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Science Writer. Researchers found a significant negative association between sleep disorders and vitamin C intake in men within quintile 4 (HR= 0.76, P= 0.02).

vitamin CVitamin C is an antioxidant that effectively neutralizes free radicals and reduces oxidative stress1,2. Previous research suggests that vitamin C can also a positive effect on sleep disorders3. Various studies have shown a negative association between serum vitamin C as well as dietary vitamin C and sleep disorders such as insomnia4, sleep wake disorders5, sleep apnea6, and memory impairment due to sleep deprivation7. In the current trial, researchers utilized participant data from the UK biobank to assess a possible causal association between dietary vitamin C intake and sleep disorders8.

The UK biobank is a population-based, comprehensive, prospective study similar to the NHANES conducted in the United States. Researchers collected medical history, demographic data, information on health behaviors, blood, urine, and saliva samples along with measurements of physical and functional capabilities. This data was collected through a series of computer-based interviews and questionnaires as well as in person visits. For this assessment, researchers used 24-hour dietary data during 2009-2010. Researchers also gathered demographic information from the period between 2006-2010. Participant data was included If they showed an absence of sleep disorders and a complete vitamin C dietary record at baseline. Data was excluded from individuals with extreme energy intake and incomplete data. Participants were categorized into one of five groups based on vitamin C intake. Linear regression model was used to assess any relationship between dietary vitamin C and sleep disorders. Additional sensitivity and stratification analysis was applied to determine the strength of the association (if any) and any specific associations.

A total of 68,221 participants were included in this longitudinal assessment. The average age of participants was 56.24 ±8.14 years old. Researchers found that individuals with sleep disorders were more likely to be male, older, and had a higher BMI, rates of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and malignant neoplasms. These individuals also generally had lower family incomes, education, vitamin C intake, and metabolic scores. Linear regression models showed that after adjusting for all covariates, individuals categorized into quintile 2 (51.27- 90.44 mg/d vitamin C) and quintile 4 (132.88- 191.51 mg/d vitamin C) had significantly reduced risk of sleep disorders compared to those in quintile 1 (< 51.27 mg/d vitamin C). The hazard ratio for quintile 2 and quintile 4 were 0.83 (P= 0.04) and 0.78 (P= 0.01), respectively. When stratified by gender, researchers found a significant negative association between sleep disorders and vitamin C intake in men within quintile 4 (HR= 0.76, P= 0.02). However, no significant association was seen in women. When stratified by age, researchers observed a negative association between vitamin C intake and sleep disorders among participants under the age of 60 years old in quintile 2 (HR= 0.78, P= 0.02) and quintile 4 (HR= 0.71, P< 0.001). Researchers also saw that individuals in quintile 4 with hypertension had a lower risk of sleep disorders compared to those in quintile 1 (HR= 0.77, P= 0.02). Researchers also saw a dose- response relationship between vitamin C intake and the risk of sleep disorders between 125 and 200mg/ day. They also conducted a mediation analysis and found that C-reactive protein plays a significant role in the effect of vitamin C on sleep disorders (P <0.05). Further analysis showed that individuals in quintile 4 had significant protective effect of vitamin C against sleep disorders (HR= 0.80, P= 0.024) and specifically sleep apnea (HR= 0.77, P= 0.013).

Results from this longitudinal analysis supports prior research. Researchers found a significant inverse association between dietary vitamin C intake between 132.88- 191.51 mg/d vitamin C and the risk of sleep disorders. These positive effects were especially seen among individuals with hypertension, men, and individuals below the age of 60 years old. Researchers also found that C- reactive protein mediates the effect of vitamin C on sleep disorders. Further research will be needed to verify these findings.

Source: Zhang, Qiuge, Xueting Qi, Zhaoguo Wang, Dongfeng Zhang, and Tong Wang. “The Association Between Dietary Vitamin C and Sleep Disorders: A Cohort Study Based on UK Biobank.” Nutrients 16, no. 21 (2024): 3661.

© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
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Posted December 11, 2024.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

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