American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 15, 2022

Murphy RA, Tintel N, Harris WS, Darvishian M, Marklund M, Virtanen JK, Hantunen S, de Mello VD, Tuomilehto J, Lindström J, Bolt MA, Brouwer IA, Wood AC, Senn M, Redline S, Tsai MY, Gudnason V, Eiriksdottir G, Lindberg E, Shadyab AH, Liu B, Carnethon M, Uusitupa M, Djousse L, Risérus U, Lind L, van Dam RM, Koh WP, Shi P, Siscovick D, Lemaitre RN, Mozaffarian D.

Background:

n-3 and n-6 PUFAs have physiologic roles in sleep processes, but little is known regarding circulating n-3 and n-6 PUFA and sleep parameters.

Objectives:

We sought to assess associations between biomarkers of n-3 and n-6 PUFA intake with self-reported sleep duration and difficulty falling asleep in the Fatty Acids and Outcome Research Consortium.

Methods:

Harmonized, de novo, individual-level analyses were performed and pooled across 12 cohorts. Participants were 35–96 y old and from 5 nations. Circulating measures included α-linolenic acid (ALA), EPA, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), DHA, EPA + DPA + DHA, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid. Sleep duration (10 cohorts, n = 18,791) was categorized as short (≤6 h), 7–8 h (reference), or long (≥9 h). Difficulty falling asleep (8 cohorts, n = 12,500) was categorized as yes or no. Associations between PUFAs, sleep duration, and difficulty falling asleep were assessed by cross-sectional multinomial logistic regression using standardized protocols and covariates. Cohort-specific multivariable-adjusted ORs per quintile of PUFAs were pooled with inverse–variance weighted meta-analysis.

Results:

In pooled analysis adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and health status, participants with higher very long-chain n-3 PUFAs were less likely to have long sleep duration. In the top compared with the bottom quintiles, the multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for long sleep were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.95) for DHA and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.93) for EPA + DPA + DHA. Significant associations for ALA and n-6 PUFA with short sleep duration or difficulty falling asleep were not identified.

Conclusions:

Participants with higher concentrations of very long-chain n-3 PUFAs were less likely to have long sleep duration. While objective biomarkers reduce recall bias and misclassification, the cross-sectional design limits assessment of the temporal nature of this relation. These novel findings across 12 cohorts highlight the need for experimental and biological assessments of very long-chain n-3 PUFAs and sleep duration.

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This work was supported by IAFNS Dietary Lipids Committee.