Omega-3 and omega-6 Fatty Acid Biomarkers and Sleep Duration: Pooled Analysis from Five Prospective Studies in the Fatty Acids and Outcome Research Consortium (FORCE) (P08-116-19)

Abstract

ObjectivesBoth too little and too much sleep may be detrimental for health, and emerging evidence suggests links between diet and sleep duration. n-3 and n-6 fatty acids (FAs) have physiologic roles in sleep processes including initiation, regulation, and melatonin production. We aimed to assess the association of circulating n-3 and n-6 FA biomarkers with sleep duration in the Fatty Acids and Outcome Research Consortium (FORCE). MethodsA pooled cross-sectional analysis of harmonized individual-level analyses from 5 prospective cohorts was performed. FA biomarkers assessed included 18:3n-3, 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3, 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6, and the sum of n-3 FAs in lipid compartments (phospholipids, cholesterol esters, total plasma, and total serum). FAs were measured between 1993–2016 and expressed as % of total FAs. Sleep duration was self-reported and categorized as <7 hrs, 7–8 hrs or >8 hrs. The 5 pooled studies comprised 4,691 participants aged 35 to 96 from Finland, Iceland, Sweden and USA. Associations between FAs and sleep duration per interquintile range (10th-90thpercentile) were assessed with a standardized protocol including definitions for exposures, outcomes and covariates. Cohort level odds ratios (OR) were pooled with inverse-variance weighting. ResultsOverall, 1,229, 2,812 and 650 participants had sleep duration <7 hrs, 7–8 hrs (reference category) and >8 hrs, respectively. In pooled multivariable adjusted analyses, higher 22:6n-3 was associated with lower odds of sleeping >8 hrs (OR per interquintile range: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53–0.94); as was the sum of n-3 FAs (OR per interquintile range: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58–0.99). Other individual n-3 or n-6 FAs were not significantly associated with sleep duration >8 hrs; and none of the n-3 or n-6 FAs were associated with sleep duration <7 hrs. ConclusionsThese novel findings demonstrate relationships between n-3 FAs, especially 22:6n-3, and longer sleep duration. The results highlight the need for future prospective studies and interventions to establish temporality, causality, and potential mechanisms. Funding SourcesILSI North America.