Partial sleep deprivation on dietary energy intake in healthy population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: the restriction of nocturnal sleep has immediate effects, including the presence of excessive daytime sleepiness, general fatigue, or impaired concentration. In the long term, it increases the risk of death from cardiac, respiratory, and metabolic disorders, and the prevalence of obesity in healthy populations. However, despite the existence of a large number of studies on this topic, results have been controversial. Objective: to discuss and analyze the evidence on the effects of nocturnal sleep restriction versus habitual sleep on dietary energy intake, including specific meals, as well as the relationship between ghrelin and leptin levels in a healthy population. Methods: a systematic search of the literature was conducted in October 2016 and February 2019 using the PubMed, Scopus, Lilacs, and Embase databases. Terms used were "sleep," "feeding behavior," "dietary energy intake," "energy intake," "meal," "ghrelin," and "leptin." Results: the bibliographic search identified 384 potential articles. Of a total of eight articles accepted in the review, six contain information available for the analysis of total energy intake. The overall result shows a significant difference in energy intake between study groups (149.86 (95 % CI: 10.09-289.63); p = 0.04), and a higher intake of all macronutrients. Conclusions: the present systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that partial sleep deprivation increases total energy intake, as well as all macronutrients, when compared to habitual sleep.