What to Eat for a Better Sleep in Haemodialysis Patients: Potential Role of B Vitamins Intake and Appetite

Objective: Sleeping disorders are common among Haemodialysis-HD patients. In addition to well-known factors, food consumption impact on sleep quality needs being discovered. Aim was to examine the nutrition-related factors that may influence sleep quality in HD patients.

Methods: One hundred and three patients in three HD centres participated. Data were collected with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-PSQI and Questionnaire Form about socio-demographic characteristics and appetite. Biochemical findings were obtained; food consumption for three consecutive days was recorded. Independent Samples t/Mann Whitney U tests for mean comparison; Logistic Regression Analysis for determining variables affecting sleep quality, were used.

Results: Mean age was 59.19±14.57 years. 51.5% were women. 37.9% had good (PSQI<5) and 62.1% had poor (PSQI≥5) sleep quality. Appetite had significant impact on sleep quality; poor sleeping risk was 4.194 fold higher in patients with bad appetite than those with good appetite (p=0.038). Biochemical findings of poor and good sleepers were similar, except for potassium and creatinine. Vitamins B, B and folate intake of good and poor sleepers were significantly different. Patients with good sleep quality consumed significantly higher amounts of above B vitamins (p=0.030, p=0.036, p=0.034, respectively).

Conclusions: Favourable effect of appetite and certain nutrients intake on sleep quality in HD patients was shown. Improving nutritional status of HD patients has potential to increase their sleep quality.