The Association Between Essential Metal Element Mixture and Sleep Quality in Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Previous studies have related single essential metal elements (EMEs) to sleep quality among older adults, however, the association of the EME mixture with sleep quality remained poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between single EMEs and the EME mixture and sleep quality in older adults living in Chinese communities. This study consisted of 3957 older adults aged 60 years or over. Urinary concentrations of cobalt (Co), vanadium (V), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), strontium (Sr), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) were detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Sleep quality was evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The associations of single EMEs and EME mixture with sleep quality were assessed using logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models, respectively. Adjusted single-element logistic regression models showed that Mo (OR = 0.927, 95%CI:0.867-0.990), Sr (OR = 0.927, 95%CI:0.864-0.994), and Mg (OR = 0.934, 95%CI:0.873-0.997) were negatively related to poor sleep quality. BKMR models exhibited similar results. Also, higher levels of the EME mixture in urine were inversely related to the odds of poor sleep quality after adjustment for covariates, and Mo had the largest conditional posterior inclusion probability (condPIP) value in the mixture. Mo, Sr, and Mg were negatively related to poor sleep quality, separately and as the mixture. The EME mixture in urine was associated with decreased odds of poor sleep quality in older adults, and Mo was the greatest contributor within the mixture. Additional cohort research is warranted to clarify the relationship of multiple EMEs with sleep quality.

Automated summary

Previous studies have explored the relationship between single essential metal elements (EMEs) and sleep quality in older adults, but the impact of the EME mixture on sleep quality is not well understood. This study examined the associations between single EMEs and the EME mixture and sleep quality in older adults living in Chinese communities. The results showed that Mo, Sr, and Mg were negatively associated with poor sleep quality, both individually and as part of the EME mixture. The EME mixture in urine was found to be associated with decreased odds of poor sleep quality, with Mo being the most significant contributor. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between multiple EMEs and sleep quality.