We explored the connection between vitamin D levels and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity in a group of 262 adults who were diagnosed with OSA through polysomnography (a type of sleep study). Our aim was to understand if vitamin D deficiency could influence the severity of sleep apnea symptoms, particularly given the growing evidence linking these two health issues.
In our findings, we observed that 63% of participants had low vitamin D levels, which were associated with increased severity of OSA. The results showed a negative correlation between vitamin D levels and key sleep parameters, meaning that lower vitamin D was linked to worse apnea-hypopnea indices, which measure the frequency of breathing interruptions.
Notably, when we adjusted for various factors like age, sex, and body mass index, our analysis revealed that individuals with higher vitamin D levels had lower chances of experiencing severe OSA. Conversely, those with vitamin D deficiency were nearly three times more likely to have severe symptoms, particularly in individuals over 50 or those categorized as obese.
This study suggests that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels might be important in managing OSA severity. However, it’s essential to note that we did not specifically examine the effects of vitamin D treatment, so more research is needed to determine whether increasing vitamin D can effectively improve sleep apnea outcomes.
Overall, our work highlights the potential role of vitamin D as a modifiable factor in the complex management of obstructive sleep apnea and its symptoms.