Diet, Sleep, and Fatigue (Adult Population)

This research by Thapa et al. (2024) delved into the interplay between sleep duration and fruits and vegetables (FV) consumption among Finnish adults, recognizing their crucial roles in overall health and well-being. Data from 5,043 people 18 years of age and older who participated in the National FinHealth 2017 Study were used in the research. Using a validated self-administered questionnaire, participants revealed their usual sleep duration and eating habits. Various factors like demographics, socio-economic status, and chronotype were factored in as potential confounders. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate the results, excluding those who under-reported energy intake. When the mean food intake of the three sleep length groups (short, normal, and long) was examined, the following differences were observed: short sleepers consumed 37 g/d less FV compared to normal sleepers, while long sleepers consumed 73 g/d less FV. Even after accounting for several confounding factors, a substantial negative connection was observed between FV intake and short and long sleep durations. This study underscores a consistent trend where deviating from normal sleep duration correlates with reduced FV consumption, suggesting the importance of factoring in sleep patterns in dietary interventions. It also highlights how important precise energy reporting is to comprehend these relationships. The authors recommend conducting further studies to expand the understanding of these relationships’ mechanisms, particularly on longitudinal studies.