(P02-116-25) Gender and Age Group Differences in the Link Between Sleep Duration and Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Lower-Income Midlife and Older Adults

Objectives: This study tested the hypotheses that 1) sleep duration and quality are associated with fruit/vegetable (FV), fiber, and fat intake in lower-income midlife and older adults, and 2) gender and age differences exist in these relationships.

Methods: Baseline data from 163 ethnically diverse, lower-income midlife and older adults from the NIH-funded Steps for Change trial were analyzed. Dietary intake was assessed using the Block Fruit/Vegetable/Fiber and Fat Screeners, operationalized as weekly servings. Sleep duration (hrs/night) and quality were self-reported via the Stanford WELL for Life Scale. Linear regression models assessed sleep duration as a predictor of FV, fiber, and fat intake, adjusting for confounders with separate models for sleep quality. Gender and age-group differences were tested using interaction terms, with stratified models also used to explore differences.

Results: The sample was 73.2% women, with a mean (SD) age of 70.5 (9.7) years. Mean (SD) sleep duration was 6.8 (1.2) hrs/night, with 79% reporting "good" sleep quality. Duration was positively associated with FV intake (β = 2.2; p = 0.03). The interaction between duration and gender was marginally significant (p = 0.07); stratified models showed a positive association in men (β = 5.5; p = 0.02) but not in women (p = 0.41). The interaction between duration and age group was not significant (p = 0.28). Stratified models showed a marginally significant positive association in older adults (β = 1.8; p = 0.09) and no association in midlife adults (β = 3.5; p = 0.23). No significant associations were found between duration and fiber or fat intake, or between sleep quality and diet intake. 

Conclusions: This study found that longer sleep duration was associated with higher FV intake in men but not women. A marginally significant association was observed in older adults. Findings suggest gender and age differences in the sleep-diet relationship. Longitudinal research is needed to explore these associations over time.

Funding Sources: This research was supported by R01CA211048 and P20CA217199 from the National Cancer Institute, R01HL11644804 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a grant from the Discovery Innovation Fund in Basic Biomedical Sciences from Stanford University. Dr. Zamora was supported by the Stanford University School of Medicine's Propel Postdoctoral Scholars program.