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The association between ultra-processed food consumption and chronic insomnia in the NutriNet-Santé Study
Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are increasingly consumed globally and have been linked to various health issues like diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Few studies on chronic insomnia have examined their effects on sleep health. Duquenne et al. (2024) examined the relationship between chronic insomnia and UPF intake in a population-based sample. It involved a cross-sectional analysis of data from the NutriNet-Santé study, an ongoing web-based cohort in France. 38,570 adult men and females who supplied at least two 24-hour food records and answered a sleep questionnaire in 2014 were included in the analysis. The NOVA-Group 4 method served as the basis for the UPF categorization, and specified criteria were used to characterize chronic insomnia. The authors noted that, among the participants (mean age 50.0 ± 14.8 years, 77.0% female), 19.4% showed symptoms of chronic insomnia. On average, UPF comprised 16% of their total dietary intake (g/day). Higher UPF intake was linked to an increased risk of chronic insomnia. Additionally, men were more likely than women to have an over 10% increase in the intake of UPF when suffering from chronic insomnia. This extensive research discovered a substantial correlation between UPF intake and persistent sleeplessness, even after adjusting for lifestyle, food quality, mental health, and sociodemographic variables. These findings underscore the need for future longitudinal studies and targeted interventions addressing nutrition and sleep. [NPID: Epidemiological cohort, dietary intake, insomnia, NOVA classification, sleep disorders, ultra-processed food]
Year: 2024
