Higher intake of legumes and nuts was significantly associated with lower odds of short sleep duration and poor sleep quality in a dose-response manner among Iranian adults, with associations more pronounced in females.
Higher legume and nut consumption was significantly associated with reduced odds of short sleep duration.
Higher legume and nut consumption was significantly associated with reduced odds of poor sleep quality.
A U-shaped association was observed between glutathione peroxidase levels and the odds of poor sleep quality.
The study population consisted of 535 Iranian adults assessed through validated dietary and sleep measurement tools.
Dietary intake is described as a crucial modifiable factor for sleep health, operating partly through its influence on oxidative stress and inflammation.
This research suggests that eating more legumes (such as beans and lentils) and nuts is linked to better sleep—both in terms of sleep duration and sleep quality—among Iranian adults. The study surveyed 535 adults using a dietary questionnaire and a standardized sleep quality tool (the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). People who ate more legumes and nuts were about half as likely to report short sleep or poor sleep quality compared to those who ate less, and this relationship appeared to strengthen with increasing intake. The associations were particularly notable among women. The study also examined biological markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in participants' blood. One finding was a U-shaped relationship between levels of glutathione peroxidase (an antioxidant enzyme) and poor sleep quality, meaning that both very low and very high levels of this enzyme were associated with worse sleep. This hints at a complex biological connection between diet, the body's antioxidant systems, and sleep. Because this was a cross-sectional study (meaning it captured a snapshot in time rather than following people over time), it cannot prove that eating more legumes and nuts directly causes better sleep. However, the findings add to growing evidence that dietary choices may meaningfully influence sleep health, potentially through effects on inflammation and oxidative stress. This research suggests that dietary patterns emphasizing legumes and nuts could be a practical, modifiable factor worth considering in efforts to improve sleep health at a population level.
Jabbari M, Poursalehi D, Moradmand Z, Rashki A, Shahdadian F, Rouhani P, et al.. (2026). Legumes and nuts intake in relation to sleep duration and quality, oxidative stress and inflammation in Iranian adults.. Food & function. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo04053a