Dietary intake of zinc, magnesium, B-group vitamins, vitamin D, and vitamin C is associated with better mental health, memory function, and sleep quality in medical university students.
In a cross-sectional study of 985 medical university students, network analyses identified zinc, magnesium, B-group vitamins, vitamin D, and vitamin C as central micronutrients associated with mental health, memory function, and sleep quality. The study found high prevalence of depression (49.2%), anxiety (49.7%), stress (62.9%), and sleep disturbances (54.3%) among participants.
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Dietary intake of zinc, magnesium, B-group vitamins, vitamin D, and vitamin C is associated with better mental health, memory function, and sleep quality in medical university students. The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 32/100 (low).
The Claim
Dietary intake of zinc, magnesium, B-group vitamins, vitamin D, and vitamin C is associated with better mental health, memory function, and sleep quality in medical university students.
This conclusion is most relevant to: Medical university students (mean age 22.44 years, 50.76% female).
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Dietary Micronutrient Intake and Its Associations with Memory Function, Mental Health, and Sleep Quality among Medical University Students: A Network Analysis. (Iranian journal of psychiatry, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Micronutrients such as zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins are involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and regulation.
- ▸Vitamin D and magnesium modulate neuroinflammation and stress response.
- ▸These micronutrients influence neural pathways related to mood, memory, and sleep regulation.
- ▸Adequate intake may improve mental health, memory, and sleep quality.
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Medical university students (mean age 22.44 years, 50.76% female)
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Cross-sectional design cannot establish causality.
- ▸Dietary intake assessed via self-reported Food Frequency Questionnaire, which may be subject to recall bias.
- ▸Network analysis is exploratory and does not provide effect sizes or clinical thresholds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which micronutrients were most strongly associated with sleep quality in this study?▼
The study identified zinc, magnesium, B-group vitamins, vitamin D, and vitamin C as central nodes related to sleep quality, among other outcomes.
What was the prevalence of sleep disturbances among the students?▼
Approximately 54.3% of the 985 students experienced sleep disturbances based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory cut-off.
Can improving micronutrient intake improve memory and mental health?▼
This cross-sectional study suggests associations, but causality cannot be inferred. The authors propose these micronutrients as targets for future clinical studies.
What study design was used?▼
It was a cross-sectional study using network analysis (EBICglasso and Bayesian networks) to explore associations among dietary intake, memory, mental health, and sleep quality.
References
- 1.Dehesh T, Pournamdari S, Ahmad F, Dabaghzadeh F. “Dietary Micronutrient Intake and Its Associations with Memory Function, Mental Health, and Sleep Quality among Medical University Students: A Network Analysis..” Iranian journal of psychiatry, 2026. PMID: 42605394 DOI: 10.18502/ijps.v21i2.21223