The effects of vitamin D on sleep quality and pregnancy symptoms in pregnant women: a randomized, tripled-blinded and placebo-controlled clinical trial

Purpose Because of the importance of having enough sleep in life and health, this study aims to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on sleep quality and pregnancy symptoms (primary outcomes) and side effects (secondary outcome). Design/methodology/approach In this triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 88 pregnant women with gestational age of 8–10 weeks and serum vitamin D concentration less than 30 ng/ml were allocated into vitamin D (n = 44) and control (n = 44) groups by blocked randomization method. The vitamin D group received a 4,000 IU vitamin D pill, and the control group received a placebo pill daily for 18 weeks. Independent t-, Mann–Whitney U and ANCOVA tests were used to analyze the data. Findings The post-intervention mean (SD: standard deviation) of total sleep quality score in the vitamin D and placebo group were 1.94 (2.1) and 4.62 (1.71), respectively. According to the Mann–Whitney U test, this difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) of pregnancy symptoms in the vitamin D and placebo groups was 23.95 (16.07) and 26.62 (13.84), respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups based on ANCOVA test (p = 0.56). Considerable side effects were not observed in any groups. Originality/value This study was conducted due to the contradictory results of the effect of vitamin D on sleep quality and the high prevalence of sleep disorders and pregnancy symptoms.