Vitamin D and B12 linked to actigraphic sleep in older adults
In 460 middle-aged and older adults, higher vitamin D was associated with longer and less disturbed actigraphic sleep; B12 links to sleep differed by sex. These are associations, not proof that vitamins improve sleep. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The study included 460 participants aged 40 and older from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, and examined associations between serum vitamin D and B12 levels and actigraphic sleep indices. [1]
Higher vitamin D concentration was associated with longer total sleep time and shorter average wake bout length, and vitamin D deficiency with shorter total sleep time. [1]
Higher B12 was associated with shorter wake after sleep onset in women but longer in men, and B12 insufficiency/deficiency with longer total sleep time in men but shorter in women. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational cohort study (abstract)
- Population / context
- 460 middle-aged and older adults aged 40 and older (average 70.9 years; 52.8% female; 22.2% Black) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 1, 2026
Vitamin D and B12 versus actigraphic sleep in 460 adults
The study asked whether blood levels of vitamin D and B12 relate to sleep measured by actigraphy, a device worn to record movement during sleep. It included 460 participants aged 40 and older (average 70.9 years; 52.8% female; 22.2% Black) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Vitamin levels were the predictors; sleep outcomes were total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset and average wake bout length. Race and sex were examined as possible modifiers of these associations.
Supporting source [1]
Longer sleep time with higher vitamin D; B12 patterns by sex
Higher vitamin D concentration was associated with longer total sleep time (23.63 minutes more, 95% CI 9.62–37.64) and shorter average wake bout length (−0.29 minutes, 95% CI −0.50 to −0.09). Vitamin D deficiency was associated with shorter total sleep time (−23.03 minutes, 95% CI −42.05 to −4.01). Vitamin D–sleep associations were stronger among Black participants. Higher B12 was associated with shorter wake after sleep onset in women but longer wake after sleep onset in men; B12 insufficiency/deficiency was associated with longer total sleep time in men but shorter in women.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only associations; causality not shown
The authors conclude that higher vitamin D levels are associated with longer and less disturbed sleep in middle-aged and older adults. They state that future studies are needed to understand whether maintaining optimal vitamin D levels improves sleep quality and sleep-associated health outcomes. This is an observational cohort analysis, so the links do not show that vitamins cause better sleep. Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed, so details of measurement timing and adjustment are not confirmed here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is an observational cohort analysis, so associations do not establish causation. Measurement timing and adjustment details are not confirmed here.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Chen D, Rabinowitz JA, Wu F, Wei Z, An Y, Schrack JA, Tanaka T, Chia CW, Wu MN, Wanigatunga SK, Ferrucci L, Simonsick EM, Spira AP. · europepmc.org · October 1, 2026