A new observational study finds a temporal association between daytime diet and objectively measured sleep quality, suggesting a potential role for dietary modification in sleep management.
Key takeaways:
- A new study found that higher daytime intake of fruits and vegetables was associated with less fragmented, objectively measured sleep that same night.
- The study used a food tracking app and wrist monitors to establish a temporal connection between diet and sleep in healthy young adults.
- Statistical modeling estimates that consuming the CDC-recommended five cups of fruits and vegetables daily could lead to a 16% improvement in sleep quality.
- Researchers suggest dietary modification may be a cost-effective approach for improving sleep, though further studies are needed to establish causation.
A study from researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine and Columbia University found that higher consumption of fruits and vegetables during the day is associated with less disrupted sleep that same night. The findings, published in Sleep Health, establish a temporal connection between a day’s dietary choices and objectively measured sleep quality.
The observational study involved healthy young adults who reported daily food consumption using an app and wore a wrist monitor to objectively measure sleep patterns. The researchers focused on sleep fragmentation, an index reflecting awakenings or shifts from deep to light sleep. This method allowed for a direct comparison of a specific day’s diet with that night’s sleep quality.
“Dietary modifications could be a new, natural and cost-effective approach to achieve better sleep,” says co-senior author Esra Tasali, MD, director of the UChicago Sleep Center, in a release. “The temporal associations and objectively-measured outcomes in this study represent crucial steps toward filling a gap in important public health knowledge.”
The analysis revealed that participants who ate more fruits, vegetables, and healthy carbohydrates like whole grains experienced deeper, more uninterrupted sleep. Based on their models, the researchers estimate that individuals consuming the CDC-recommended five cups of fruits and vegetables per day could see a 16% improvement in sleep quality compared to those who consume none.
“16 percent is a highly significant difference,” Tasali says in the release. “It’s remarkable that such a meaningful change could be observed within less than 24 hours.”
While previous studies have linked high fruit and vegetable intake with better self-reported sleep, this research used objective measures to draw a same-day temporal connection. Future studies will aim to establish causation, expand the findings to more diverse populations, and explore the underlying metabolic and neurological mechanisms.
“Small changes can impact sleep. That is empowering — better rest is within your control,” says co-senior author Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD, director of the Center of Excellence for Sleep & Circadian Research at Columbia, in a release.
More About Sleep & Diet:
ID 7696438 © Crystalsahara | Dreamstime.com
