Dietary insulinemic potential, sleep quality and quantity in Iranian adults: Yazd health study and TAMYZ study

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To examine the link between dietary insulin index (DII) and load (DIL) and sleep duration/quality for the first time. METHODS: This cross-sectional study conducted on data from the recruitment phase of Yazd Health Study (YaHS)-Yazd Nutrition Study (TAMYZ), prospective study in Yazd, central Iran. Data on demographic characteristics, dietary intakes, sleep quantity and quality, and potential confounders were gathered by interview. Sleep quality and its components (insufficient sleep, delay in falling asleep, medication use for sleep, and sleep disorder) were assessed by a modified version of Pittsburgh questionnaire. The link between DII/DIL and low sleep quality and short/long sleep duration was studied using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 5925 individuals aged 20 to 70 were eligible to take part in the current study. After adjustment for all potential confounders, participants in the highest DIL score tertile had a lower chance for sleep disorder (OR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.17–0.85, P(trend) = 0.02) and delay in falling asleep (OR = 0.66; 95%CI: 0.42–1.03, P(trend) = 0.05) compared to those in the lowest tertile. The DII was also linked to a lower chance for sleep disorder (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.39–0.93, P trend = 0.02). The DIL was inversely associated with sleep medication use and delay in falling sleep in men and women, respectively (P < 0.05). Moreover, DII was linked to a decreased odds of sleep disorder in women (P < 0.05). The associations were observed in those with overweight or obesity but not in those without overweight (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher DIL and DII might be associated with sleep quality and its components. Prospective investigations are needed in the future to confirm these findings. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40795-023-00745-6.