Measures of Poor Sleep Quality Are Associated With Higher Energy Intake and Poor Diet Quality in a Diverse Sample of Women From the Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network

Abstract

Background Poor sleep increases cardiovascular disease risk, and diet likely contributes to this relationship. However, there are limited epidemiological data on the relationship between measures of sleep quality and habitual dietary patterns. This study examined these associations in a diverse sample of women. Methods and Results Baseline data from 495 participants in the AHA Go Red for Women prospective cohort study (age: 20–76 years; 61% racial/ethnic minority) were examined. Sleep quality and sleep‐onset latency were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ( PSQI ) and insomnia using the Insomnia Severity Index. The validated Block Brief Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to assess diet quantity and quality. Linear regression models adjusted for confounding variables tested relationships between sleep and diet variables. Results showed that higher PSQI scores, indicative of poorer sleep quality, were associated with lower unsaturated fat intake (β=−0.14, P <0.05) and higher food weight (β=14.9, P =0.02) and added sugars consumed (β=0.44, P =0.04). Women with sleep‐onset latency >60 minutes had higher intakes of food by weight (β=235.2, P< 0.01) and energy (β=426, P <0.01), and lower intakes of whole grains (β=−0.37, P =0.01) than women with sleep‐onset latency ≤15 minutes. Greater insomnia severity was associated with higher food weight (β=9.4, P =0.02) and energy (β=17, P =0.01) consumed and lower total (β=−0.15, P =0.01) and unsaturated fat intakes (β=−0.11, P <0.01). Conclusions Poor sleep quality was associated with greater food intake and lower‐quality diet, which can increase cardiovascular disease risk. Future studies should test whether promoting sleep quality could augment efforts to improve cardiometabolic health in women.

A Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Predicts Better Sleep Quality in US Women from the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network

“…In addition, based on previous findings of a beneficial influence of fish intake on sleep onset latency [41], we had also hypothesized that higher fish intake would predict better sleep quality. This hypothesis was not supported; however, we did find that a higher MUFA to SFA ratio and greater total intakes of unsaturated fat, of which fatty fish are a rich source, are linked to better future sleep quality, extending a cross-sectional association of unsaturated fat with overall sleep quality [6]. Together, these findings help to explain how a Mediterranean diet can improve sleep quality, but also suggest that, for promotion of sleep, recommendations for this diet should extend to a broader range of foods rich in unsaturated fat and plant-based protein.…”

“…On one hand, it is well-established that changes in sleep duration and quality can impact the types and amounts of food consumed [4]. Healthy sleep duration and markers of good sleep quality, including higher sleep efficiency and shorter sleep onset latency, have been linked with better diet quality, namely higher intakes of nuts, legumes, fruits, and unsaturated fat [5,6], as well as lower intakes of energy and added sugars [6,7]. Effects of short and poor sleep on food intake and diet quality have been demonstrated via mechanisms including greater sensitivity to food reward and changes in appetite hormones [8].…”

“…The current study was designed to prospectively assess whether adherence to a Mediterranean diet modified for US populations (aMed) [12] predicts habitual sleep quality in US women, who generally report more sleep-related complaints than men [22]. Additionally, given previous cross-sectional associations of foods and nutrients encouraged in an aMed diet (e.g., fruits and vegetables, unsaturated fat) with parameters of sleep quality [6,17], we aimed to assess whether aMed diet components, or their key nutrients, were associated with future sleep quality. We hypothesized that greater concordance to the aMed diet at baseline would be associated with better overall sleep quality, highlighted by shorter sleep onset latency, higher sleep efficiency, and fewer sleep disturbances, at 1-y.…”

Maternal Sleep Quality is Associated with Personal and Parenting Weight-Related Behaviors

“…Physical health conditions linked with poor sleep quality, including BMI, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes [ 10 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], also are linked to dietary intake and weight-status [ 33 ]. These shared links are likely because limited sleep duration is inversely correlated with physical activity, calorie intake, and overall diet quality, and is positively correlated with eating in response to negative emotions and availability of highly palatable foods (disinhibited eating) [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

“…Although studies suggest poor sleep quality is associated with poorer overall dietary intake, attention to other weight-related behaviors remain understudied [ 37 ]. In addition, research focused on mothers with young children and variations in weight-related parenting behaviors by sleep quality could not be located.…”