Effect of Urtica dioica (nettle) on quality of sleep in hemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Sleep disorders are common in patients with end-stage renal disease. The present study aimed to examine the effect of (Nettle) on sleep quality in hemodialysis patients. 

Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 90 hemodialysis patients. Using the convenience sampling method, the participants were selected and then randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group was provided with 400-mg Urtica dioica tablets three times a day for three consecutive months. On the other hand, the control group did not receive any intervention. The socio-demographic/ clinical characteristics were collected using a pre-structured questionnaire. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index before the intervention and after the first, second, and third months of intervention. 

Results: The results of the study were indicative of no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of sleep quality before and after the intervention (P = 0.09). Moreover, the effect of Urtica dioica on sleep quality was not significantly different at the end of the first (P = 0.14), second (P = 0.34), and third (P = 0.97) months. 

Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, Urtica dioica did not significantly improve sleep quality in hemodialysis patients. Despite the use of hypnotics, poor sleep quality is common among hemodialysis patients. Nonetheless, Urtica dioica along with hypnotics helped maintain the stability of sleep quality in the present study. Urtica dioica tablets in the hemodialysis patients decreased sleep latency and increased sleep duration.