Nutr Res Pract.  2011 Jun;5(3):230-235.

Comparison of nutrient intake by sleep status in selected adults in Mysore, India

• Zadeh SS
• Begum K

Abstract

Insomnia has become a major public health issue in recent times. Although quality of sleep is affected by environmental, psychophysiological, and pharmacological factors, diet and nutrient intake also contribute to sleep problems. This study investigated the association between nutrient intake and co-morbid symptoms associated with sleep status among selected adults. Subjects in this study included 87 men and women aged 21-45 years. Presence of insomnia was assessed using the Insomnia Screening Questionnaire, and dietary intake was measured over three consecutive days by dietary survey. Descriptive analysis, ANOVA, and Chi-Square tests were performed to compute and interpret the data. Approximately 60% of the participants were insomniacs. People with insomnia consumed significantly lesser quantities of nutrients as compared to normal sleepers. Differences in intakes of energy, carbohydrates, folic acid, and B12 were highly significant (P < 0.002). Further, intakes of protein, fat, and thiamine were significantly different (P < 0.021) between insomniacs and normal sleepers. The nutrient intake pattern of the insomniacs with co-morbid symptoms was quite different from that of the normal sleepers. Based on these results, it is probable that there is an association between nutrition deficiency, co-morbid symptoms, and sleep status. More studies are required to confirm these results.

Keyword

Sleep; insomnia; nutrient intake; sleep disturbances; public health

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Carbohydrates
Diet
Female
Folic Acid
Humans
India
Male
Mass Screening
Public Health
Surveys and Questionnaires
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Thiamine
Carbohydrates
Folic Acid
Thiamine

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