Nutrition/Obesity
Micronutrient Intake, Depression, and Sleep Duration Among U.S. Adults in NHANES 2021–2023 Shilpa Patil* Shilpa Patil Patil Patil Patil Patil UNT Health Science Center
Sleep is a critical determinant of cardiometabolic and mental health, yet the roles of specific micronutrients and depression in shaping sleep duration remain incompletely understood. This study examined whether total intakes of folate, vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc are associated with sleep duration, and whether depression status modifies these relationships among U.S. adults.
Cross-sectional data were analyzed for 4,118 adults in the 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Sleep duration was self‑reported and categorized as short (<7 hours), optimal (7–9 hours), or long (>9 hours) per night. Total daily folate, vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc intakes from foods and supplements were estimated from 24‑hour dietary recalls and a dietary supplement questionnaire.
Survey‑weighted multinomial logistic regression models, with optimal sleep as the reference, estimated associations between each nutrient and sleep duration, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, sedentary behavior, alcohol use, multimorbidity, and depression, and tested nutrient–depression interactions. Mean (SD) intakes were 716.7 (731.6) mcg for folate, 32.6 (46.5) mcg for vitamin D, 339.2 (180.9) mg for magnesium, and 16.2 (15.3) mg for zinc. Overall, 20.5% of adults reported short sleep, 69.2% optimal sleep, and 10.3% long sleep. Higher total folate and vitamin D intakes were associated with slightly lower odds of short versus optimal sleep, whereas total magnesium and zinc were not significantly associated with sleep duration.
Clinically significant depression (PHQ‑9 ≥10) was strongly related to sleep duration, with higher odds of both short and long sleep compared with no clinically significant depression. Interactions between depression and folate and vitamin D were statistically significant but small in magnitude, indicating limited effect modification. Overall, depression and sociodemographic factors were more prominent correlates of non‑optimal sleep duration than total folate, vitamin D, magnesium, or zinc intake. Ensuring adequate micronutrient intake may modestly support healthy sleep, but strategies to improve sleep should prioritize mental health and social determinants of health.