Abstract
Polyphenols are plant compounds with several biological activities. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the potential role of polyphenols in modulating sleep. A total of 28 preclinical studies, 12 intervention studies and four observational studies exploring the role of polyphenol intake on sleep were identified. From animal studies, 26 out of the 28 studies found beneficial effects of polyphenols on sleep architecture. Three out of four human observational studies found a beneficial association between polyphenol intake and sleep parameters. And, among clinical intervention studies, eight from a total of 12 studies found some beneficial effect of polyphenol intake on various sleep parameters, although some discrepancies between studies were found. Overall, emerging evidence suggests a benefit of polyphenol intake on sleep. Several mechanisms of action have been suggested, ranging from effects on neurotransmitters to an action through the gut-brain axis. However, more research in this field is needed, emphasizing the use of nutritional doses in mechanistic studies and interventions targeting participants with sleep problems. This would allow to elucidate whether an additional biological effect of polyphenols is modulation of sleep, a behavior associated with adverse health outcomes.