Approved Research

Health risk of poor sleep patterns: the role of dietary habits

Lay summary

Multiple surveys have revealed that between 30 to 40% of adults complain about poor sleep patterns. Poor sleep, such as short sleep duration and fragmented sleep, has been linked to a shorter health and life span in previous studies, including research from the UK Biobank. Recent findings suggest that the detrimental effects of poor sleep on health and life expectancy can be mitigated by adhering to an otherwise healthy lifestyle. In detail, it has been shown that the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease because of poor sleep can be reduced through a physically active lifestyle. However, whether following a healthy diet can similarly counter the effects of poor sleep on the health and life span is unknown. Therefore, in the present project, we aim to investigate whether adherence to a vegetarian diet can mitigate the adverse association of poor sleep with health outcomes and life expectancy. The project is expected to be completed in 24 months. Results from our project will provide crucial insights into the interaction of diet and sleep concerning health and life span. Our findings may contribute to better health in the population.