Italy's Sleep Deficit Spurs Rise in Dietary Supplement Use

A recent survey of Italian adults found that 74.5% experience occasional difficulty falling asleep and 35.4% report frequent or chronic insomnia. In response, 67% of respondents use dietary supplements to aid sleep, with 25% taking them regularly and 42% on an occasional basis. The most popular supplement categories are vitamins and minerals (used by 51% of participants), plant‑based extracts (49.5%) and melatonin (36%).

Market analysts project that by 2025 Italy’s sleep‑support supplement market will exceed €223 million in value, up 7.3% year‑on‑year, with more than 15.5 million packages sold, a 5.7% increase. Researchers from AstraRicerche and Nutrition Foundation Italy cite growing public awareness of the link between nutrition, stress, anxiety and sleep quality.

A complementary guide highlights foods that naturally promote better rest, such as turkey, chicken, dairy, almonds, walnuts, spinach, cherries, oats, bananas and caffeine‑free herbal teas like chamomile and valerian. Experts advise consuming these items earlier in the evening and avoiding heavy meals or large fluid intake close to bedtime to maximize sleep benefits.