A Scoping Review of The Potential Nutrition Interventions to Promote Sleep in Elite Athletes and Support Staff: Practical Considerations Using a Systematic Approach

Background/Objectives: Sleep is pivotal for the recovery and energy restoration in elite athletes and support staff, working high performance sporting environments. Nutrient intake can play a positive and negative role in sleep quality and quantity. Elite athletes and support staff experience unique psychological and physiological demands. Nutrient interventions and their effect on sleep in elite athletes is an emerging area with little known specific nutrition interventions to promote sleep in support staff. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were utilised to systematically assess the available literature. NUQUEST AND P2P Matrix tools were used to enhance the rigour, reduce risk of bias and offer practical recommendations for practitioners. Results: 11 studies met the inclusion criteria for nutrition interventions to promote sleep in elite athletes and none met the inclusion criteria for nutrition interventions to promote sleep in support staff. Kiwfruit, Tart Cherry Juice and Dairy demonstrated the high evidence based practical application, moderate-low level risk of bias and high level of study rigour. Carbohydrate intake, casein, tryptophan, probiotic and meeting energy demands showed varying results on sleep quality in elite athletes. Conclusions: Kiwifruit, Tart Cherry Juice and Dairy consumption offer potential nutrition interventions to promote sleep in elite athletic populations. Given the lack of available literature in support staff, nutrition interventions prior to sleep is a novel area to investigate given the specific demands of being in involved in high performance sport.