Influence de la nutrition sur le sommeil et la vigilance

Numerous data suggest that food intake is able to influence sleep and wakefulness. The knowledge on the sleep physiology allows to formulate several hypothesis on the mechanisms involved in the relationship between diet and sleep. It has been observed that enhanced food intake increases sleep duration whereas a reduced food supply decreases sleep duration. Moreover, the nature of nutriment is able to influence wakefulness. A rich carbohydrate meal can decrease vigilance in a subject submitted to sleep deprivation whereas a protein diet can improve psychocognitive performances in such a situation. The physiological mechanisms suggested to explain the role of volume and nature of a meal are related with the role of nutriment on neuromediators metabolism or the hormonal changes induced by the feeding pattern. From a practical point of view the knowledge of the diet impact on sleep and wakefulness may be useful in the management of healthy subject and also of consequencies of metabolic diseases.