A survey of dietary intake habits and nutritional status in women aged 60-90 years suffering from sleep disorders

Background: Disturbances to the rhythms of the sleep-wake cycle adversely impact the quality of everyday living. Amongst those factors predisposing, causing and consolidating sleeping disorders are inappropriate nutrition and its effect on nutritional status

Objective: To survey by questionnaire the nutritional status and habits in women aged 60-90 years suffering from sleeping disorders

Materials and methods: Subjects were 141 women aged 60-90 years, attending lectures at the Szczecin Humanistic University for Seniors, of whom 110 (78%) were selected as having declared sleep disorders. Three age groups were established, of 60-65 years (n=39), 65-75 years (n=52) and above 75 years (n=19). Anthropometric measurements were performed (body mass and height) and the BMI (Body Mass Index) calculated. Calorific/energy and nutritional values of the daily dietary intakes were assessed in 330 meals using the PDCAAS calculation (Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score). Subjects had previously undergone a two-month pro-health nutrition course

Results: Daily sleeping disorders were declared by 24.5% women, whilst 45.4% demonstrated inappropriate nutrition. Daily dietary intakes showed insufficiencies in the following: calories, consuming assimilative carbohydrates, cellulose, potassium, calcium, vitamin D3 and water. Simultaneously, excessive intake of Na, P, Fe, Zn, Cu and vitamins: A, B2, B6, B12, niacin and C were found. The smallest quantity of nutritious foodstuffs were consumed by the eldest women (significance of p ≤0.05). The share of protein-derived calories was significantly the highest in the 66-75 age group (p ≤0.01). Leucine was the amino acid that limited the biological value of consumed protein. Such dietary faults/errors were due to an inappropriate structure of foodstuff consumption

Conclusion: The dietary intake habits of women in all the age groups were found to be unbalanced in terms of calories and nutritional value, which may affect neurotransmitter synthesis that regulates the sleep and wake cycle along with melatonin homeostasis. It is essential that elderly women are provided with pro-health education covering their nutrition as well as sleeping hygiene.