Evaluation of Possible Changes in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Sleep Quality in Inactive Young Women with Vitamin D Deficiency after a Period of the High -Intensity Interval Running Training with Vitamin D Intake

Obesity and vitamin D (VD) deficiency is associated with poor sleep quality (SQ), and lifestyle changes can effectively improve SQ. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high- intensity interval running training (HIIRT) with VD intake on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and SQ in young women with VD deficiency.

This clinical trial study was conducted on 52 women with an average age of 25.98±1.95 years, body mass index of 27.54±1.13 kg/m2 and low VD status. After being selected by the available sampling method, the subjects were randomly divided into control, running training, VD and combined groups. HIIT performed in 12x1-min running bouts at 80-90% HRmax interspersed with one minute of active recovery. VD was consumed weekly with a dose of 50,000 units. SQ was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with repeated measures, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and paired t- test (p<0.05).

After 8 weeks, the levels of BDNF in the experimental groups increased and the SQ score decreased significantly (p<0.05). But the combined intervention had more effect on the change of SQ scales (p<0.05) and BDNF (p<0.001) compared to the other two interventions (p<0.05). In addition, no significant difference was observed between the changes in the SQ score of the running training and VD groups (p<0.05).

Lifestyle changes such as HIIT, VD intake, and combined intervention can lead to improvement of SQ through the up-regulation of BDNF in women with overweight and VD deficiency. Also combined intervention may have more potent effects on improving these variables.