Effects of vitamin D and/or calcium intervention on sleep quality in individuals with prediabetes: a post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin D and/or calcium supplementation on sleep quality in individuals with prediabetes.

A 24-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in a 212 Chinese population with prediabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups: vitamin D + calcium group (1600 IU/day + 500 mg/day, n = 53), vitamin D group (1600 IU/day, n = 54), calcium group (500 mg/day, n = 51), and control group (placebo, n = 54). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used as the primary outcome to assess sleep quality. Questionnaires and fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and post-intervention for demographic assessment and correlation index analysis.

After a 24-week intervention, a significant difference was observed in serum 25(OH)D concentration among the four groups (P < 0.05), and the total PSQI score in vitamin D + calcium group was lower compared to the preintervention levels. Subgroup analyses revealed improved sleep quality with calcium supplementation (P < 0.05) for specific groups, including women, individuals with a low baseline 25(OH)D level (< 30 ng/mL), and individuals in menopause. Moreover, correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between the extent of change in sleep efficiency scores before and after the calcium intervention and the degree of change in insulin efficiency scores (r = − 0.264, P = 0.007), as well as the magnitude of change in islet beta cell function (r = − 0.304, P = 0.002).

The combined intervention of vitamin D and calcium, as well as calcium interventions alone, exhibits substantial potential for improving sleep quality in individuals with prediabetes.

The trial was registered in August 2019 as ChiCTR190002487.