Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia

Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia

Published on: February 17, 2023

The Impact of Milk-Derived Bioactives and Fortified or Fermented Milk Products on Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review

Lingyin Yu¹, Shuqi Li¹, Jung Eun Kim^1,2

¹Department of Food Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117542, Singapore.

Nutrition Reviews

|August 28, 2026

Abstract

Context:

Milk-derived bioactives and fortified or fermented milk products may have sleep-promoting effects, but evidence remains inconsistent.

Objective:

The effects of milk-derived bioactives and fortified or fermented milk products on sleep-related outcomes in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were evaluated in this systematic review and meta-analysis, and associations between milk/dairy consumption and sleep quality in cross-sectional studies are summarized. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to health status, intervention type, and study duration.

Data Source:

Relevant studies were identified from the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases.

Data Extraction:

Twenty-five studies were included in the systematic reviews, of which 11 RCTs were eligible for meta-analysis.

Data Analysis:

Milk-derived bioactive and fortified or fermented milk-product interventions significantly improved sleep efficiency (SEff), the percentage of time in bed spent asleep (standardized mean difference for SEff [SMDSEff] = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.21-0.70). Post hoc subgroup analyses further demonstrated that milk supplementation induces greater improvements in SEff (SMDSEff = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.27-0.76); wake after sleep onset (WASO), the minutes awake after initial sleep onset (mean difference for WASO [MDWASO] = -8.24; 95% CI, -13.64 to -2.84) among individuals with sleep or health disturbances; and reduced sleep latency (SL) (ie, time from lights off to sleep onset) in generally healthy participants (MDSL = -2.17; 95% CI, -4.09 to -0.25). Among intervention types, only milk protein and peptides significantly improved SEff (SMDSEff = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.23-0.79). Interventions lasting longer than 4 weeks enhanced SEff (SMDSEff = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.36-0.83) and WASO (MDWASO = -10.26; 5% CI, -15.42 to -5.09).

Conclusion:

Evidence from RCTs suggests that milk-derived bioactives and fortified or fermented milk products may improve sleep, particularly in individuals with impaired sleep or underlying health conditions. Cross-sectional studies suggest generally positive but heterogeneous associations between milk/dairy consumption and sleep quality. These findings highlight the importance of considering supplementation type and duration when designing or interpreting studies on diet-sleep relationships.

Systematic Review Registration:

PROSPERO registration No. CRD420251023926.

Keywords:

milk milk components sleep disturbance sleep quality tryptophan

More Related Videos

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Published on: April 26, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...

Management of Insomnia

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...

Stages of Sleep

Stages of Sleep

Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...

Blind Procedures

Blind Procedures

Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which child was...

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Whole egg consumption effects on vitamin D and carotenoids bioavailability in pre- and post-menopausal females: a randomized crossover controlled feeding trial.

Food & function·2026

Investigating the Impact of Protein Supplementation from Different Sources on Advanced Glycation End Products in Older Adults in Singapore Following a Healthy Dietary Pattern.

Nutrients·2026

Comparison of Habitual Protein Intake and Protein Metabolism Between Asian and Western Countries. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Nutrition reviews·2026

Effect of okara and biovalorised okara consumption on postprandial amino acid response: a crossover randomised controlled trial.

European journal of clinical nutrition·2026

Impact of Antioxidant-Rich Whole Foods or Supplements on Skin Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical and Clinical Studies.

Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Impact of quantity and source of dietary protein intake within a healthy dietary pattern on cardiovascular disease risk factors in Singapore older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Food & function·2025

See all related articles