Evidence supporting the use of: Kiwi
For the health condition: Sleep (restless and disturbed)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

There is some scientific evidence suggesting that kiwi fruit may help improve sleep quality, particularly in people experiencing sleep disturbances. A small clinical trial published in 2011 in the journal Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adults who consumed two kiwifruits one hour before bedtime for four weeks experienced improvements in total sleep time, sleep onset latency, and sleep efficiency. The proposed mechanisms include kiwi’s relatively high content of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of the sleep cycle, as well as antioxidants and folate, which may also play a role in sleep health.

However, the evidence base is limited. Most studies to date are small and have methodological limitations, including lack of blinding and small sample sizes. While the findings are promising, they are not conclusive, and further large-scale, well-controlled studies are needed to firmly establish the efficacy of kiwi for improving sleep. As such, the scientific support for kiwi as a sleep aid can be considered preliminary.

There is little documentation of traditional use of kiwi specifically for sleep in historical or folk medicine. Most of the current interest is based on modern research rather than longstanding traditional practices.

More about kiwi
More about Sleep (restless and disturbed)

Products containing kiwi

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