Medical Researches
Moderately Effective
Based on 8 Researches
We explored the effects of pharmacologic vitamin C on insomnia related to cancer chemotherapy. In our case study, we worked with a woman battling recurrent breast cancer who was experiencing significant fatigue and lethargy as she underwent weekly chemotherapy sessions.
To combat her sleep disturbances, we administered high doses of vitamin C, 50 grams per session, twice a week. We also employed quality of life and fatigue questionnaires to monitor changes over time.
The results were promising! We observed marked improvements in her insomnia and overall fatigue levels. Furthermore, there was a notable enhancement in her cognitive functioning, without any adverse side effects from the vitamin C treatment.
This case highlights how vitamin C may offer relief from insomnia associated with chemotherapy, providing a new avenue for improving quality of life during cancer treatment.
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Zinc's role in insomnia unclearThe effect of melatonin, magnesium, and zinc on primary insomnia in long-term care facility residents in Italy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Combination therapy complicates zinc analysis
We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in a long-term care facility in Italy to assess whether nightly supplementation of melatonin, magnesium, and zinc could help improve primary insomnia in elderly residents. A total of 43 participants, mostly in their late 70s, were divided into two groups: one received a combination of these supplements, while the other received a placebo for eight weeks.
Throughout the study, we focused on measuring sleep quality using several tools, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. After two months, we found that the group taking melatonin, magnesium, and zinc showed improvements in sleep quality and overall quality of life compared to the placebo group.
While the results are promising for the combination of these supplements, it's important to note that this study makes it challenging to determine the specific role that zinc alone may play in addressing insomnia. Nonetheless, the findings suggest that this combination could be beneficial for sleep in long-term care residents experiencing primary insomnia.
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Vitamin C shows limited insomnia benefitsEfficacy of vitamins C, E, and their combination for treatment of restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Limited relevance due to combination
We evaluated the effects of vitamin C on insomnia by investigating its impact on patients suffering from restless legs syndrome (RLS) during hemodialysis. In a well-designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we worked with sixty stable hemodialysis patients who met all diagnostic criteria for RLS.
These patients were divided into four groups to receive either vitamin C and vitamin E, vitamin C and a placebo, vitamin E and a placebo, or double placebos for a period of eight weeks. We measured the severity of RLS symptoms using the International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS) before and after the treatment phase.
Our findings showed that while the combination and individual treatments of vitamins C and E led to reduced IRLS scores, indicating improvement in symptoms, vitamin C alone didn't demonstrate a significant effect on insomnia. In fact, there were no distinct advantages between the treatment groups when comparing their outcomes to the placebo. Ultimately, while these vitamins appeared safe and effective overall, it seems that vitamin C's role in remedying insomnia is not as pronounced as one might hope.
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We explored the case of an emmetropic woman experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness alongside insomnia, which aligned with the criteria for a non-24 h sleep-wake disorder. After traditional treatments failed, we discovered deficiencies in vitamin B12, vitamin D3, and folic acid.
Upon supplementing these nutrients, we observed a restoration of a 24-hour sleep-wake rhythm in the participant. Interestingly, this improvement occurred independently of the natural light-dark cycle, raising questions about the specific impact of vitamin D on sleep patterns.
While our study underscores how addressing vitamin deficiencies can influence sleep, it also leaves us pondering whether vitamin D plays a direct role as an essential factor or if it merely acts as a concurrent indicator of overall health.
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Vitamin D benefits for insomniaEfficacy of low-fat milk and yogurt fortified with encapsulated vitamin D on improvement in symptoms of insomnia and quality of life: Evidence from the SUVINA trial.
Direct study on insomnia treatment
We set out to explore the relationship between vitamin D and insomnia by examining how low-fat milk and yogurt fortified with 1,500 IU of nano-encapsulated vitamin D could improve sleep issues and overall quality of life.
In our analysis, we included adults with abdominal obesity and a history of insomnia, identifying twenty-nine participants through insomnia severity questionnaires. They were split into four groups: one receiving fortified low-fat milk, another with unfortified milk, a third group consuming fortified yogurt, and a fourth with unfortified yogurt. Over a ten-week period, we tracked changes in insomnia symptoms and quality of life.
Our findings revealed that those drinking the vitamin D fortified milk experienced significant improvements in insomnia scores compared to those consuming regular milk. Additionally, quality of life assessments showed positive changes for both fortified and unfortified milk groups. However, the yogurt groups did not demonstrate significant benefits, indicating that while fortified dairy has potential, yogurt may not be as effective in this context.
In conclusion, incorporating fortified low-fat milk into our diets could help ease insomnia symptoms and enhance life satisfaction, although yogurt did not show the same promise.
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