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Food Consumption and Sleep Disturbances in 9-year-old Children

Maria Emília de Carvalho Faria1, Silmara Salete de Barros Silva Mastroeni1,2, Lidiane Ferreira Schultz1

  • 1Postgraduate Program in Health and Environment, Universidade da Região de Joinville, UNIVILLE, Joinville, SC, Brazil.

Sleep Science (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
|April 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Lack of fruit consumption in 9-year-olds is linked to sleep disturbances. Encouraging fiber-rich foods may help prevent sleep problems in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutrition Science
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are a common issue in childhood.
  • Dietary habits are increasingly recognized as a factor influencing child health and development.
  • Understanding the link between specific food groups and sleep is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between food consumption patterns and sleep disturbances in 9-year-old children.
  • To identify specific dietary factors that may predict or protect against sleep problems in this age group.

Main Methods:

  • The study utilized data from the larger Predictors of Maternal and Infant Excess Body Weight (PREDI) cohort.
  • Food consumption was assessed using the Brazilian Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN).
  • Sleep disturbances were evaluated using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), with data self-reported by mothers and children.

Main Results:

  • Out of 142 children, 45.1% experienced sleep disturbances.
  • Children who did not consume fruits showed a significantly higher proportion of sleep disturbances (55.6%) compared to fruit consumers (p=0.008).
  • Logistic regression indicated that lack of fruit consumption was an independent predictor of sleep disturbances (OR=2.26, p=0.023).

Conclusions:

  • A lack of fruit consumption is a significant predictor of sleep disturbances in 9-year-old children.
  • Fruit consumption demonstrates a protective effect against sleep disturbances.
  • Promoting diets rich in fiber, such as fruits, may be a strategy for preventing sleep problems in early childhood.

Keywords:
childrenfood consumptionfruitssleep disturbancesleep habits

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