Associations of Protein, Fat, and Carbohydrate Intakes With Insomnia Symptoms Among Middle-aged Japanese Workers

Abstract

BackgroundDiet is a modifiable factor that may affect sleep, but the associations of macronutrient intakes with insomnia are inconsistent. We investigated the associations of protein, fat, and carbohydrate intakes with insomnia symptoms.MethodsIn this cross-sectional analysis of 4435 non-shift workers, macronutrient intakes were assessed by the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, which requires the recall of usual intakes of 58 foods during the preceding month. Presence of insomnia symptoms, including difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), and poor quality of sleep (PQS) were self-reported. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs adjusted for demographic, psychological, and behavioral factors, as well as medical histories.ResultsLow protein intake (<16% vs ≥16% of total energy) was associated with DIS (OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.99–1.56) and PQS (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.04–1.48), while high protein intake (≥19% vs <19% of total energy) was associated with DMS (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.12–1.76). Low carbohydrate intake (<50% vs ≥50% of total energy) was associated with DMS (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.97–1.45).ConclusionsProtein and carbohydrate intakes in the daily diet were associated with insomnia symptoms. The causality of these associations remains to be explained.

Low Intake of Vegetables, High Intake of Confectionary, and Unhealthy Eating Habits are Associated with Poor Sleep Quality among Middle‐aged Female Japanese Workers

“…Regarding macronutrients, a study of Japanese workers showed a marginally significant association between low carbohydrate intake and difficulty in maintaining sleep 14) , and our results for carbohydrate were inconsistent with this paper. On the other hand, there are other past studies showing opposite results that were consistent with ours 29) .…”

“…Thus, altering dietary habits is more feasible than altering lifestyle behaviors in female workers. Evidence supporting the relationship between sleep quality and diet has been scarce, however, and of those available, two studies, one each from Japan 14) and the US 15) , utilized non-validated questionnaires. The relationship between dietary intake and sleep quality would be better understood by studies utilizing validated questionnaires.…”

Effects of Diet on Sleep Quality

“…Other epidemiologic studies have found associations between disordered sleep and diet (16)(17)(18). Tanaka et al (16) reported a relation between macronutrient intakes and insomnia symptoms in a cross-sectional analysis of non-shift workers who responded to a brief diet history questionnaire.…”

“…Tanaka et al (16) reported a relation between macronutrient intakes and insomnia symptoms in a cross-sectional analysis of non-shift workers who responded to a brief diet history questionnaire. Low protein intake (<16% of energy from protein) was associated with poor quality of sleep and marginally associated with difficulty initiating sleep, whereas high protein intake (>19% of energy from protein) was associated with difficulty maintaining sleep.…”

“…In general, those studies indicate higher fat intakes with sleep disorders (17) and that following a Mediterranean dietary profile is associated with fewer insomnia symptoms in women (18). Information on the association between carbohydrate intakes and sleep quality is conflicted (15)(16)(17), with studies reporting low intakes in those with insomnia symptoms (16,17) but high intakes of sweets (15). This would suggest that carbohydrate quality may be important to consider when examining the association between diet and sleep quality.…”