Fruit and vegetable intake and incident and persistent poor sleep quality in a rural ageing population in South Africa: longitudinal study

Abstract

Background Fruit and vegetable intake may improve sleep. Aims To assess the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and sleep quality in a longitudinal study. Method We analysed longitudinal data from two consecutive population surveys of adults in Agincourt, South Africa (2014–2015 and 2018–2019). Results In total, 331 of 2975 participants without poor sleep quality in Wave 1 (11.1%) had incident poor sleep quality in Wave 2, and 270 of 3546 participants who had poor sleep quality in Wave 1 (7.6%) had poor sleep quality in both Waves 1 and 2 (persistent poor sleep quality). The prevalence of poor sleep quality at baseline was 17.2%. In the fully adjusted model for people without poor sleep quality at baseline, higher fruit and vegetable consumption (≥5 servings/day) was positively associated with incident poor sleep quality among men (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.51–2.01) but not among women (AOR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.78–1.46). Two or more servings of fruits were positively associated with incident poor sleep quality among men (AOR = 3.35, 95% CI 1.96–5.72) and among women (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.15–2.94). No models among men and women showed a significant association between vegetable intake and incident poor sleep quality or between fruit and vegetable intake, vegetable intake and persistent poor sleep quality. Fruit intake (one serving) was positively associated with persistent poor sleep quality among men (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.00–3.08) but not among women (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI 0.93–2.18). Conclusions Higher fruit and vegetable intake was independently associated with poorer sleep quality among men but not women, and higher fruit but not vegetable intake was associated with poorer sleep quality among both men and women.

A nationwide study on sleep complaints and associated factors in older adults: ELSI-Brazil

“…Among the behavioral variables, failure to adequately consume fruits and vegetables was positively associated with poor sleep quality. Several studies have reported that fruit and vegetable intake is critical for improving sleep quality 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 . In older adults from South Africa, not eating fruits and vegetables increased the odds of poor sleep quality by 1.76 (95%CI: 1.00; 3.08) 55 , corroborating the findings of our study (OR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.03; 1.62).…”

“…Several studies have reported that fruit and vegetable intake is critical for improving sleep quality 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 . In older adults from South Africa, not eating fruits and vegetables increased the odds of poor sleep quality by 1.76 (95%CI: 1.00; 3.08) 55 , corroborating the findings of our study (OR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.03; 1.62). This relationship may occur since fruits/vegatables are important sources of antioxidants, polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamin C, fiber, potassium, flavonoids, and other biologically active compounds, which have been proven to act through numerous pathways to control body homeostasis and play an important role in regulating circadian rhythm, thus improving sleep quality 56 .…”