PP462 - MEDITERRANEAN DIET ADHERENCE AND ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD CONSUMPTION IN RELATION TO SLEEP AND MOOD AMONG MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER WOMEN: NHANES 2007–2018

PP462

MEDITERRANEAN DIET ADHERENCE AND ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD CONSUMPTION IN RELATION TO SLEEP AND MOOD AMONG MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER WOMEN: NHANES 2007–2018

B. Soma^1,*, A. Christoforou¹

¹Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

Rationale: Sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms increase in midlife and older adulthood and may be influenced by diet quality (1). We examined associations of Mediterranean diet adherence and ultra-processed food (UPF) intake with depressive symptoms and sleep difficulty in U.S. women.

Methods: Data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018, including women aged ≥45 years (n=7,606). Mediterranean diet adherence was assessed using a modified Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS; 0–8) (2). UPF intake was defined as the proportion of total energy intake from NOVA Group 4 foods (3). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and sleep difficulty using the corresponding PHQ-9 item (4). Survey-weighted linear (depressive symptoms) and ordinal logistic regression (sleep difficulty) were used. Models were sequentially adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, reproductive, medication, body mass index, and physical activity covariates.

Results: In fully adjusted models, higher MDS was associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = −0.12, 95% CI −0.21 to −0.02; p=0.02). Higher UPF intake was associated with greater depressive symptoms (β = 1.64, 95% CI 0.75 to 2.52; p<0.01). MDS was not associated with sleep difficulty (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.06; p=0.79), whereas higher UPF intake was associated with greater sleep difficulty (OR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.88; p=0.02).

Conclusion: Among middle-aged and older U.S. women, Mediterranean diet adherence and UPF intake were associated with depressive symptoms, while UPF intake was also associated with greater sleep difficulty. These findings highlight diet quality, particularly food processing, as a correlate of mental and sleep health.

References: Baker FC, Sleep Med Clin, 2018

Knoops KTB, JAMA, 2004

Steele EM, J Nutr, 2023

Kroenke K, J Gen Intern Med, 2001

Disclosure of Interest: None declared