Association between Serum Vitamin D Status and Circadian Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Circadian Syndrome (CircS) encompasses cardiometabolic risk factors and comorbidities, indicating an elevated susceptibility to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D levels and each of the following: CircS, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and the individual components of CircS. Data from 14,907 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2018 were utilized. CircS was defined based on MetS components, alongside depression, short sleep, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Results: Our results indicated that low vitamin D levels exhibited meaningful associations with CircS, with vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy demonstrating 2.21-fold (95% CI 1.78-2.74, p < 0.001) and 1.33-fold (95% CI 1.14-1.54, p < 0.001) increases in CircS odds, respectively. The association between vitamin D deficiency and CircS was stronger than that with MetS. Additionally, a dose-response gradient in odds of CircS components, particularly with short sleep duration, was noted as serum vitamin D levels decreased. Conclusions: our findings highlight a significant association between low serum vitamin D levels and CircS and its components, particularly with short sleep. This suggests a potentially pivotal role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of Circadian syndrome.