The Association of Sodium or Potassium Intake Timing with Athens Insomnia Scale Scores: A Cross-Sectional Study

Insomnia is a significant public health problem affecting a large population. Although previous research has explored the relationship between specific nutrients and insomnia, comprehensive analyses of daily eating patterns of macro- and micronutrients remain limited. Since nocturnal hypertension is related to sodium/potassium intake and sleep disturbances, the present cross-sectional study hypothesized that daily eating patterns of potassium and sodium would be associated with Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores. Dietary data (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack intake) and additional online questionnaire responses were obtained from users (N = 4568; age: 43.5 ± 11.2 years) of Asken, a Japanese food-logging mobile health application. AIS scores were divided into three groups according to symptom classification. Multiple regression analyses revealed that individuals with higher AIS scores had higher daily potassium intake; potassium at dinner was especially crucial. These results underscore the potential importance of potassium intake in relation to sleep and highlight a novel association between sleep disturbances and the timing of sodium and potassium consumption.