Examination of correlations between vitamin D and melatonin levels with sleep among women aged 18-49 years.

OBJECTIVES: Although clinical research is still going on to determine any relationship between vitamin D and sleep regulation, only few studies have identified the role of vitamin D metabolism in sleep disorders. The current study aims to examine the incidence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the sample group and its effects on sleep quality and melatonin level. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed. A total of 79 women aged 18-49 years who applied to the research and training hospital between 1 October and 30 November 2021 participated in the study. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire prepared by the authors and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Blood samples were taken from the participants, also, 25-OH-vitamin D3 and melatonin levels in serum samples were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The participants (n = 79) were aged 29.61 ± 11.14 years. The mean total PSQI scores of the participants were calculated as 5.77 ± 2.70. We determined that 64.6% of the participants had vitamin D deficiency, 21.5% had vitamin D insufficiency, and 13.9% of the participants were vitamin D sufficient. The mean melatonin level was found to be 24.77 ± 27.77 ng/L. We determined that an increase in the melatonin levels decreases the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Besides, our findings showed a good positive correlation between serum melatonin and 25 OH vitamin D3 levels (r = 0.544, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the correction of vitamin D insufficiency can positively affect melatonin levels, therefore, it may positively contribute to the treatment of sleep disorders related to melatonin deficiency.

Relationship of the platelet distribution width/platelet count ratio with thyroid antibody levels in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

OBJECTIVE: I investigated whether the platelet distribution width/platelet count (PDW/PC) ratio, which is an inexpensive and simple test performed for almost all patients, is applicable in the follow-up of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and examined the relationship of this ratio with thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin antibody levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study groups consisted of 67 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 17 controls. All participants were aged 20 to 75 and treated the Internal Medicine outpatient clinic of my institution. The PDW/PC ratio and thyroid antibody levels were retrospectively evaluated in patients with normal liver and renal function and normal white blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels, and hematocrit levels. RESULTS: Thyroid antibody levels were significantly higher in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis than in controls. PC was higher in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, whereas the PDW/PC ratio was lower. However, these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In this study, I did not find a statistically significant relationship between thyroid antibody levels and PDW/PC. However, a weak correlation between these variables was identified.