Stress and mild anxiety emerge as among the main causes, while the use of dietary supplements as support for sleep is on the rise.
The quality of sleep appears to concern only a minority of Italy’s population. From a recent survey conducted by AstraRicerche for Integratori & Salute it emerges that only 1 in 4 Italians (25.5%) reports always sleeping well.
Among those who report sleep-related difficulties, 67% use dietary supplements at least occasionally to help with sleep, while 1 in 4 Italians (25%) do so regularly.
The most used categories include vitamin- and mineral-based products, supplements with herbal ingredients, and melatonin.
In 2025, the market for supplements for mental well-being and sleep-related disorders surpassed €223 million in value, up 7.3% compared with 2024.
Sleep quality is one of the determinants of psychophysical well-being, but it remains a condition not always achieved. According to the AstraRicerche survey for Integratori & Salute, nearly 3 out of 4 people (74.5%) report occasional difficulty falling asleep during the week; more than a third (35.4%) say they experience this often or always.
Sleep and Psychophysical Well-Being: Growing Use of Supplements
Among the remedies adopted by Italians who report sleep disturbances, dietary supplements play a significant role. 67% say they use them at least occasionally to help with falling asleep and with psychophysical well-being; 25% use them regularly, while 42% rely on them sporadically.
The most considered types are vitamin- and mineral-based products, used by 1 in 2 Italians (51%), followed by herbal-ingredient supplements (49.5%) and melatonin (36%).
This data fits into a growing consumption trend. According to Integratori & Salute’s analysis of NewLine data, in 2025 the market for supplements for mental well-being and to support sleep exceeded €223 million in value (+7.3%), with over 15.5 million units sold (+5.7%).
«These data confirm a greater attention by Italians toward aspects of health that we now know are central,” – says Franca Marangoni, head of Research at Nutrition Foundation Italy (NFI). “Sleep, psychological balance, and physical well-being are closely linked and should be supported with an active lifestyle, maintaining social relationships and adopting a varied and balanced diet appropriate to individual needs. From a nutritional standpoint, alongside the well-established evidence for the role of specific micronutrients—such as certain B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc, which participate in essential processes for normal cognitive and psychological function—scientific research is adding new elements to support other substances like tryptophan, omega-3s, and specific antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds found in some plant extracts, whose potential mechanisms of action are being studied, particularly within broader wellness strategies».
Stress and mild anxiety among the main factors associated with difficulties falling asleep
Difficulties falling asleep are mainly linked to the emotional sphere. Stress and mild anxiety are cited by 6 in 10 Italians (61%) as the primary factors affecting sleep, followed by work-related worries (21%). Environmental and behavioral factors also play a role: external noises (18%) and use of electronic devices in the evening (17%), a phenomenon especially widespread among younger people.
Relaxation before bed: herbal teas, television, and smartphones
The survey describes diverse strategies used by Italians to promote evening relaxation. Tea remains the most common solution, chosen by more than a third of respondents (34.5%), followed by watching television programs (33%) and using a smartphone (33%). Other cited activities include listening to music (24%) and reading a book (17%).
The picture also shows a generational difference: younger age groups pair practices traditionally associated with relaxation with habits tied to digital devices. In Gen Z, almost 1 in 2 young people (46%) report using a smartphone before sleep. The data highlights a contradiction: while attention to activities designed to promote evening relaxation is increasing, a substantial portion of Italians continues to expose themselves to screens and digital content in the hours before sleep.
«Regular routines, a balanced diet, and stress management are simple, yet important, behaviors to support nighttime rest, which is an active phase of the body’s rebalancing, essential also, but not only, for emotional regulation, cognitive function, and metabolism, continues Marangoni. “Today we know that sleep isn’t just about duration: continuity, regularity, and the feeling of recovery upon waking are determinants of overall well-being, and even small improvements in these aspects, if sustained over time, can contribute to better physical and mental balance.”»
