Gaby
Previous research has linked ultra-processed foods (UPF) to heart disease and diabetes. A new study suggests these products may also be associated with chronic insomnia.
Ultra-processed foods are products that go through multiple rounds of processing, are heavily modified to enhance flavor, and have long shelf lives.
They contrast with whole foods like fruits and vegetables, which are sold in their natural state.
How the Study Was Conducted
An international team led by researchers at the University of Paris-North in France analyzed data from 38,570 adults in the NutriNet-Santé study. They compared participants’ dietary records with their reported sleep patterns.
With more products heavily processed and insomnia on the rise, it was important to check whether diet might worsen or improve sleep quality, said Marie-Pierre St-Onge, a nutrition and sleep researcher at Columbia University in the U.S.
She and her colleagues found a statistically significant link between high UPF consumption and increased risk of chronic insomnia. They adjusted for sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, overall diet quality, and mental health.
On average, participants got about 16 percent of their daily calories from UPF. Some 19.4 percent reported symptoms of chronic insomnia — and those participants tended to eat more ultra-processed foods.
The association between UPF and insomnia was stronger in men, the team reported.
The study was cross-sectional and relied on self-reported data, which limits causal conclusions. Still, the large sample suggests the link deserves further study.
“Our analysis was cross-sectional and observational, and we did not evaluate longitudinal relationships,” said French epidemiologist Pauline Ducan. She added that, given earlier work on diet and sleep, it isn’t surprising that UPF could affect sleep quality.
Some of the same researchers previously linked the Mediterranean diet to a lower risk of insomnia, so the new study adds to that body of evidence.
The team says future epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies should clarify whether UPF causes sleep problems.
The study was published in The Journal of the Academy and Dietetics.
