Independent and joint associations of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep with vitamin D status in US adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study
6 affiliations
- 1The Physical Education Department, Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou, China
- 2Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- 3Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- 4Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- 5School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
- 6Department of Sports and Health Sciences, Academy of Wellness and Human Development, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Abstract
Background Emerging evidence links movement behaviors to vitamin D status. This study investigated associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep with vitamin D status and explored sex differences in these relationships.Methods This cross-sectional study included 3195 adults (49.1 ± 17.1 years, 45.5% males) from the 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with complete data. Self-reported PA, SB, and sleep duration were assessed. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Generalized linear and logistic regression models were performed.Results SB was negatively associated with vitamin D levels in the whole sample (β = −0.006; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.012, −0.001) and males (β = −0.008; 95% CI: −0.014, −0.002), but not females. Sleep duration was positively associated with vitamin D among males only (β = 0.023; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.043). Meeting both PA and SB guidelines showed the strongest and most consistent association with vitamin D sufficiency, observed across the whole sample (odds ratio [OR] = 2.129; 95% CI: 1.504, 3.012), males (OR = 2.013; 95% CI: 1.021, 3.967), and females (OR = 2.214; 95% CI: 1.360, 3.605).Conclusions Movement behaviors demonstrate independent and joint associations with vitamin D status in US adults, with modest sex-specific patterns that warrant replication. Combined adherence to PA and SB guidelines was consistently associated with greater odds of vitamin D sufficiency across sexes.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026independent,
title = {{Independent and joint associations of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep with vitamin D status in US adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study}},
author = {Sha Li and Jie Feng and Junqiao Hu and Chang Liu and Tong Liu and Xiaojie Yang},
journal = {Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1080/15502783.2026.2756025},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/15502783.2026.2756025},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Independent and joint associations of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep with vitamin D status in US adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study
AU - Sha Li
AU - Jie Feng
AU - Junqiao Hu
AU - Chang Liu
AU - Tong Liu
AU - Xiaojie Yang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/09
JO - Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
DO - 10.1080/15502783.2026.2756025
UR - https://doi.org/10.1080/15502783.2026.2756025
AB - Background Emerging evidence links movement behaviors to vitamin D status. This study investigated associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep with vitamin D status and explored sex differences in these relationships.Methods This cross-sectional study included 3195 adults (49.1 ± 17.1 years, 45.5% males) from the 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with complete data. Self-reported PA, SB, and sleep duration were assessed. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Generalized linear and logistic regression models were performed.Results SB was negatively associated with vitamin D levels in the whole sample (β = −0.006; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.012, −0.001) and males (β = −0.008; 95% CI: −0.014, −0.002), but not females. Sleep duration was positively associated with vitamin D among males only (β = 0.023; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.043). Meeting both PA and SB guidelines showed the strongest and most consistent association with vitamin D sufficiency, observed across the whole sample (odds ratio [OR] = 2.129; 95% CI: 1.504, 3.012), males (OR = 2.013; 95% CI: 1.021, 3.967), and females (OR = 2.214; 95% CI: 1.360, 3.605).Conclusions Movement behaviors demonstrate independent and joint associations with vitamin D status in US adults, with modest sex-specific patterns that warrant replication. Combined adherence to PA and SB guidelines was consistently associated with greater odds of vitamin D sufficiency across sexes.
SN - 1550-2783
ER -