Fruit and Vegetable Consumption is Protective from Short Sleep and Poor Sleep Quality Among University Students from 28 Countries

Abstract

Supa Pengpid,1,2 Karl Peltzer3 1ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand; 2Department of Research Administration and Development, University of Limpopo, Turfloop, Mankweng, South Africa; 3Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaCorrespondence: Karl PeltzerUniversity of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaEmail [email protected]: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and sleep duration and sleep quality in university students.Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, 21,027 university students with a median age of 20 years from 28 countries replied to self-reported measures of FV consumption and sleep duration and quality.Results: The prevalence of short and long sleep was 38.9% and 12.8%, respectively, and the prevalence of poor sleep quality was 9.6% and restless sleep 19.7%. There was a linear decrease in the prevalence of short sleep with increasing FV consumption beyond ≥ 2 FV servings/day (vs 0– 1 FV servings/day). Consuming 2 FV servings/day (vs 0– 1 FV servings/day) was associated with a 21% decreased (ARRR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.70– 0.80) and 7 or more FV servings/day with a 33% decreased odds (ARRR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.55– 0.81) for short sleep. Consuming 5 FV servings/day (vs 0– 1 FV servings/day) was associated with a 34% decreased (ARRR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.51– 0.84) and 7 or more FV servings/day with a 34% decreased odds (ARRR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.50– 0.88) for long sleep. In the final adjusted logistic regression model, consuming 3 FV servings/day (vs 0– 1 FV servings/day) was associated with a 49% decreased (AOR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.42– 0.0.62) and 7 or more FV servings/day with a 30% decreased odds (AOR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53– 0.93) for poor sleep quality. Consuming 5 FV servings/day (vs 0– 1 FV servings/day) was associated with a 34% decreased odds (AOR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.54– 0.81) for restless sleep.Conclusion: The study extended previous findings of an association between inadequate FV consumption and short sleep and an inverse association between FV consumption and poor sleep quality and restless sleep.Keywords: fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep duration, sleep quality, university students

Keywords

• fruit and vegetable consumption
• sleep duration
• sleep quality
• university students