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. 2012 Dec 15;8(6):693-7.
doi: 10.5664/jcsm.2266.

Vitamin D, race, and excessive daytime sleepiness

David E McCarty  1 , Aronkumar Reddy, Quinton Keigley, Paul Y Kim, Andrew A Marino
Affiliations

Vitamin D, race, and excessive daytime sleepiness

David E McCarty et al. J Clin Sleep Med. .

Abstract

Study objectives: First, to determine whether serum vitamin D levels were correlated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with or without vitamin D deficiency (VitDd). Second, to assess whether race affected the relation between vitamin D levels and EDS.

Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) was measured by immunoassay in a consecutive series of 81 sleep clinic patients who complained of sleep problems and nonspecific pain (25OHD < 20 ng/mL ' VitDd). Sleepiness was determined using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ([ESSs] ESSs ≥ 10 ≡ EDS). Correlations were assessed using Pearson r.

Results: In patients without VitDd (25OHD ≥ 20 ng/mL), ESSs was inversely correlated with vitamin D concentration (r = 0.45, p < 0.05). The group consisted of 6% black patients, compared with 35% for the entire cohort. Among the patients who had VitDd (25OHD < 20 ng/mL), ESSs was directly correlated with 25OHD in black (r = 0.48, p < 0.05) but not white patients. In black patients, mean ESSs in patients with VitDd were higher and 25OHD levels were lower p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The results suggested the novel possibility that VitDd-related disease has a yet-to-be-identified mechanistic role in the presentation of sleepiness, sleep disorders, or both. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanism(s) involved in producing the complex relationships noted.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (ESSs) as a function of vitamin D concentration in patients without vitamin D deficiency (25OHD ≥ 20 ng/mL)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (ESSs) as a function of vitamin D concentration in patients with vitamin D deficiency (25OHD < 20 ng/mL)
(A) Individual patients stratified by race. Black patients, r = 0.48 (p < 0.05). White patients (dashed line), r = −0.27 (NS). (B) Mean sleepiness ± SD. *p < 0.05.
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