Association between adherence to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet and maternal and infant sleep disorders

Abstract

Background Maternal diet is known to be important to both mother and infant health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern (DP) and sleep problems in mothers and their infants. Methods The study included 350 breastfeeding mothers with an average age of 29.5 ± 5.9 years. Psychological functions were performed using standard questionnaires, including a Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire (SAQ), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Infant Sleep Questionnaire (ISQ). Also, a standardized food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to identify adherence to the DASH DP. Results Subjects in the highest tertile of DASH DP had significantly lower scores of mother’s sleep latency (0.70 ± 1.18 vs. 1.24 ± 1.3; P value = 0.031), sleep disorders (4.3 ± 1.6 vs. 5.3 ± 2.4; P value= 0.032) and higher mother sleep efficiency compared to those in the lowest tertile (97.5 ± 89 vs. 54.8 ± 90; P value= 0.011). Also, infants of mothers with higher adherence to a DASH DP had lower sleep disorders compared with subjects with low adherence (4.9 ± 3.8 vs. 5.7 ± 3.2; P value= 0.017). After controlling for the mother’s education, economic status, age, body mass index (BMI), and energy intake, adherence to the DASH pattern was associated with shorter sleep latency (β = 0.60; 95%CI: 0.49–0.82), fewer sleep disorders score in mothers (β = 0.92; 95%CI: 0.85–0.99) and their infants (β = 0.90; 95%CI: 0.84–0.96) as well as high mother’s sleep efficiency (β = 1.2; 95%CI: 1.1–1.31). Conclusions According to our findings, adherence to DASH DP is associated with a lower score for sleep disorders in mothers and their infants.

Healthier Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Better Sleep Quality among Shanghai Suburban Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The MD or DASH dietary pattern has been shown in earlier research to correlate increased intakes of fruits, vegetables, and legumes with better sleep characteristics [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. On the other hand, frequent use of sugar-rich beverages and a high red meat intake has been linked to detrimental effects on both the quantity and quality of sleep [ 49 ].…”

Association of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet with self-reported sleep-disordered breathing (SDB): a cross-sectional study from China

“…Similar results were reported by Liang et al [22] , who observed the DASH diet score was inversely related to sleep-related daytime dysfunction among middle-aged and older individuals. A study from Southern Iran showed that mothers and their infants with higher DASH scores had fewer sleep disorders than those with lower DASH scores [31] . Besides, the inverse association between the DASH diet and insomnia has been found in adolescent girls aged 12 to 18 years [21,32] .…”