The relationship between sleep quality and dietary intake among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: Sleep quality deteriorate during pregnancy due to hormonal and physical changes. Studies reported that poor sleep quality during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This cross-sectional study aims to examine the factors associated with sleep quality and dietary intake and their relationship in Saudi pregnant women. Methods: Sleep quality was measured by the PSQI. Dietary intake was measured by using food groups and serving sizes from a validated Food Frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Saudis. Results: 140 pregnant women living in Saudi Arabia were included. Pregnancy stage was significantly associated with PSQI, the higher the pregnancy stage (trimester) the higher the PSQI score (poorer sleep quality). In adjusted logistic regression, family income predicted a higher intake of the recommended number of fruits and vegetables (p = 0.03). No associations were observed between sleep quality and dietary intake. Conclusion: Our results may help in developing strategies to improve sleep quality and dietary habits among pregnant women. Prospective and clinical trials are warranted to draw conclusions.