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Effect of low and high glycaemic index drink on sleep pattern in children

Shabnam Jalilolghadr1, Ahmad Afaghi, Helen O'Connor

  • 1Qazvin University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Qazvin, Iran.

JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
|December 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

High-glycaemic index (GI) drinks consumed before bed increased sleep arousals in children. Low-GI drinks did not significantly affect sleep patterns, suggesting carbohydrate intake timing impacts children's sleep quality.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Nutritional Science
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Children's sleep patterns are crucial for development and well-being.
  • Dietary factors, particularly carbohydrate intake, may influence sleep quality.
  • The impact of glycaemic index (GI) on pediatric sleep requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of high-glycaemic index (GI) versus low-GI drinks on children's sleep patterns.
  • To determine if carbohydrate load before bedtime influences sleep architecture and arousals.

Main Methods:

  • A polysomnography study was conducted on eight children over three nights.
  • Children consumed either a low-GI or high-GI milk drink one hour before bedtime in a randomized order.
  • Glycaemic loads (GL) for the drinks were 7.4 (low GI) and 52.8 (high GI).

Main Results:

  • The high-GI drink resulted in a significantly greater mean total arousal index in the first half of the night compared to the low-GI drink (12.9 vs. 9.9, P=0.03).
  • Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) arousal index was also significantly higher after the high-GI drink (12.7 vs. 9.6, P=0.05).
  • No significant differences were observed in other sleep parameters between the two conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Consuming high-GI drinks one hour before sleep is associated with increased total and NREM arousals in children.
  • High carbohydrate intake close to bedtime may negatively impact sleep quality by increasing sleep arousals.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the long-term effects of dietary glycaemic load on pediatric sleep.
Abstract

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