Influence of Dietary Habits and Mediterranean Diet Adherence on Sleep Quality during Pregnancy. The GESTAFIT Project

Abstract

We examined the association of the dietary habits and the Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence with sleep quality during pregnancy. A food frequency questionnaire and the Mediterranean Food Pattern were employed to assess dietary habits and MD adherence, respectively. Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score (n = 150; mean age 32.9 ± 4.6 years). A higher consumption of fruits was associated with better sleep quality at the 16th gestational week (g.w.; p < 0.05). A greater olive oil consumption and a higher MD adherence were associated with better sleep quality at the 16th and 34th g.w. (all, p < 0.05). Contrarily, a higher red meat and subproducts consumption was associated with worse sleep quality at the 34th g.w. (p < 0.05). The group with the highest adherence to the MD (Tertile 3) showed better sleep quality than the group with the lowest adherence (Tertile 1) at the 16th and 34th g.w. (both, p < 0.05). A higher adherence to the MD, a greater intake of fruits and olive oil and a lower intake of red meat and subproducts were associated with better sleep quality along the pregnancy course, especially among sedentary women.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Pregnancy and Its Benefits on Maternal-Fetal Health: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…As for the country of origin, 57.14% ( n = 8) ( 18 – 20 , 28 – 32 ) of the articles were carried out in Spain, two studies were carried out in the Netherlands (14.29%) ( 33 , 34 ), one in England (7.14%) ( 35 ), one in France (more specifically on the island of Guadeloupe) (7.14%) ( 36 ), one in the United States (7.14%) ( 37 ), and, finally, one that included participants from the United States, Greece, and Crete (7.14%) ( 21 ). In terms of design, of the 14 studies included, five were cohorts (35.71%) ( 21 , 33 , 34 , 36 , 37 ), four clinical trials (28.57%) ( 18 , 29 , 31 , 35 ), three cases and controls (21.43%) ( 24 , 30 , 32 ), and two were cross-sectional studies (14.29%) ( 19 , 20 ).…”

“…Finally, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured through the MEDAS (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener) in 3 studies ( 18 , 29 , 31 ), through a FFQ (Food frequency questionnarire) in 7 studies ( 19 , 20 , 31 – 35 ), one study through the Mediterranean diet score (MDS) ( 21 ), another study through the index created by Trichopoulou ( 28 ) and another study with the aMED (alternative Mediterranean diet) ( 37 ). In addition there was a study that evaluated the Mediterranean diet with three indices, the MEDAS, the one created by Trichopoulou and the one created by Panagiotakos ( 30 ).…”

“…Four studies ( 19 , 20 , 29 , 35 ) analyzed the relationship between MD consumption during pregnancy and the healthy lifestyles during pregnancy. Results suggested that mothers with adherence to MD gained less gestational weight ( 29 , 35 ).…”

“…Specifically, the St. Carlos Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Study ( 18 ) establishes a direct relationship between high adherence to MD during pregnancy and decreased risk of GD, urinary tract infections (UTIs), prematurity, and low-weight newborns ( 18 ). Other research shows more benefits for the mother, as adherence to MD during pregnancy is also associated with better sleep quality throughout pregnancy ( 19 ). In addition, MD prevents overweight and obesity during pregnancy, which means that it helps to maintain adequate weight gain ( 20 ).…”

Nutritional Psychiatry: How Diet Affects Brain through Gut Microbiota

“…A laboratory study explored the hypothesis that the content in anthocyanins of isogenic wheat lines may be determinant to exert positive effects on neurodegenerative disorders [25]. Concerning sleep quality, two studies have shown an association of higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy [26] and food security with sleep quality [27], respectively; a third study from our group provided the first evidence of a potential role played by dietary polyphenol content in sleep quality [28]. Diet quality has also been related to depression in two studies: Cebrino et al [29] reported that non-depressive individuals had a higher diet quality than depressive ones in a nationwide cross-sectional study conducted in Spain; in the study of Marozoff et al [30], the authors showed that increasing Healthy Eating Index-Canada scores were associated with fewer physician visits for depression in a prospective investigation of adults living in Alberta (Canada).…”