Fat Intake Negatively Influences the Sleep Pattern in Healthy Adults

June 12, 2008

Science Daily/American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Total fat intake and dinner fat intake seem to influence negatively the sleep pattern in healthy adults, according to a research abstract that will be presented on June 10 at SLEEP 2008, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

"We showed that an increased fat intake was associated with a lower percentage of REM sleep, a higher arousal index and apnea-hypopnea index, and a lower sleep efficiency," said Crispim. "These results showed that total fat intake and dinner fat intake seem to influence negatively the sleep pattern. However, researches in the nutrition and sleep area should be carried out to better understand these associations."

"Previous studies have demonstrated that circadian distribution of food intake is capable of modifying endocrine and metabolic patterns during sleep. However, studies of the influence of food intake distribution on sleep pattern are scarce. This study, which analyzed the influence of energy intake on the sleep patterns in healthy subjects, concluded that total energy intake and late-night snack energy intake may increase sleep fragmentation in healthy subjects, which might increase the effects of sleep restriction on nutritional and metabolic balance. New studies on this area are needed to better understand theses associations," said Zalcman.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080610072056.htm