The Effect of Four-Week Co-Supplementation of Magnesium and Vitamin D on Sleep Quality and Circadian Rhythm in Cadets of Imam Ali Officers' University

Subject Areas : Journal of Animal Biology

Hekmat Ehsanbakhsh ¹ , hamid yousefi ² , Ehsan Yosofalizade ^{3 *}

1 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Imam Ali Military University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Faculty of Basic Sciences, Imam Ali Military University, Tehran, Iran
3 - PhD in Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Received: 2025-05-30 Accepted : 2025-06-25 Published : 2025-07-02

Keywords: Magnesium, Vitamin D, Sleep Quality, Circadian Rhythm, Military Students,

Abstract :

Sleep disorders are a common issue among university students, particularly military cadets who are exposed to greater physical and psychological stress. This study aimed to examine the effects of a four-week co-supplementation of magnesium and vitamin D on sleep quality and circadian rhythm in cadets of Imam Ali Officers' University. This quasi-experimental, double-blind study followed a pretest-posttest design with a control group. A total of 30 cadets were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (receiving magnesium and vitamin D supplements) or the control group (receiving a placebo). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and biochemical levels of serum melatonin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and magnesium were measured. Paired t-tests, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) were used to test the hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05. The results showed that in the supplement group, serum levels of melatonin, magnesium, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D significantly increased, and overall sleep quality scores improved. However, multivariate between-group analysis did not confirm significant differences across all sleep components. These findings suggest that the combined intake of magnesium and vitamin D may lead to partial improvement in certain aspects of sleep and circadian rhythm regulation. The use of these supplements is recommended as a simple and practical approach to enhance sleep quality among military students.

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