PUFA ω-3 and ω-6 biomarkers and sleep: a pooled analysis of cohort studies on behalf of the Fatty Acids and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCE). Issue 3 (16th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Murphy, Rachel A; Tintle, Nathan; Harris, William S; Darvishian, Maryam; Marklund, Matti; Virtanen, Jyrki K; Hantunen, Sari; de Mello, Vanessa D; Tuomilehto, Jaakko; Lindström, Jaana; Bolt, Matthew A; Brouwer, Ingeborg A; Wood, Alexis C; Senn, Mackenzie; Redline, Susan; Tsai, Michael Y; Gudnason, Vilmundur; Eiriksdottir, Gudny; Lindberg, Eva; Shadyab, Aladdin H; Liu, Buyun; Carnethon, Mercedes; Uusitupa, Matti; Djousse, Luc; Risérus, Ulf; Lind, Lars; van Dam, Rob M; Koh, Woon-Puay; Shi, Peilin; Siscovick, David; Lemaitre, Rozenn N; Mozaffarian, Dariush;
• Is Part Of: American journal of clinical nutrition. Volume 115:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 864
• Page End: 876
• Publication Date: 2021-12-16
• Subjects: sleep quality -- omega-3 -- fatty acids -- diet -- public health -- biomarkers; Diet therapy -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Dietetics -- Periodicals; 613.205
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab408
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-9165

Abstract

ABSTRACT: 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 sleeping 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 sleeping 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 sleeping 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.