Association between dietary patterns and sleep quality in Chinese children and adolescents: large-scale...

With shifts in lifestyle and living environments, the overall health of children and adolescents presents cause for concern, with sleep disorders becoming increasingly prevalent. Diet, as a modifiable lifestyle factor, significantly in-fluences sleep quality.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Renhuai City, Guizhou Province, China. A food-frequency survey was conducted among 13,523 children and adolescents, and dietary patterns were extracted using principal component analysis. Stratified by age (children and adolescents), logistic regression was used to examine the association between sleep quality and dietary patterns. Network analysis was used to explore the relationships between dietary patterns and various sleep dimensions in children and adolescents, identify bridge symptoms, and compare network characteristics between the two groups.

Four dietary patterns were identified High-Protein, Plant-Based, Fast Food and Snack, and Nuts-Aquatic products -Potatoes. Regression analyses in both children and adolescents identified the Fast Food and Snack pattern as the highest-risk pattern for sleep quality. Network analysis showed that in children, the Fast Food and Snack-Sleep Disturbance edge had the highest strength, and this diet pattern also showed the greatest bridge strength. In adolescents, the strongest edge was between the Nuts-Aquatic products -Potatoes Diet Type -Daytime function, this diet pattern also had the highest bridge strength. The global network structure differed significantly across age groups.

The association between diet patterns and sleep quality differs between children and adolescents. For children, the Fast Food and Snack Diet Type is associated with poorer sleep condition; whereas for adolescents, the Nuts-Aquatic products -Potatoes Diet Type is associated with good sleep quality.