Association Between EAT-Lancet Diet Adherence and Sleep Quality in Lactating Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In recent years, the sustainable EAT-Lancet diet (ELD) has garnered attention for its health benefits, especially regarding mental health and cognitive function. However, its impact on sleep health remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the relationship between ELD and sleep quality, focusing on lactating women, a demographic particularly susceptible to sleep disturbances. METHODS: The study involved 350 lactating women aged 20-35, randomly selected from health clinics. Dietary intake was assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). ELD was evaluated using an index developed by Kesse-Guyot, while sleep quality was measured through the self-reported Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: Each one-unit increase in ELD score was associated with 0.9% lower odds of being in a higher PSQI category in the crude model (OR = 0.991; 95% CI: 0.985-0.997; p = 0.003). In the adjusted model, each one-unit increase in ELD score was associated with 0.8% lower odds of being in a higher PSQI category (OR = 0.992; 95% CI: 0.986-0.998; p = 0.012). Although statistically significant, the variance in PSQI explained by ELD was modest (R 2 = 0.014), indicating that the absolute differences in sleep quality were small. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to show a statistically significant association between ELD adherence and sleep quality in lactating women. The effect size is modest, suggesting only slight improvements in sleep. As this is a cross-sectional study, causality cannot be inferred, and further research is needed.