Abstract
Background
Findings of previous investigations that evaluated the relationship between sleep
duration and sugar or sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake have been inconsistent.
We aimed to summarize extant research that assessed the relation between short sleep
duration and sugar and SSB intake.
Methods
A comprehensive search of PubMed, ISI Web of Sciences, Scopus, Science Direct, Embase, and Google Scholar was conducted. All observational studies that reported
sleep duration as the exposure and intake of sugar or sugary drinks as the outcome
were included. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa
Scale. The body of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Random and fixed
effects models were used to estimate pooled OR and 95% confidence intervals.
Results
Twenty-two studies in children and twelve in adults were included in the systematic
review. Only 10 studies in children and 3 investigations in adults provided odds ratios
(95% confidence intervals) for this association and could be included in the meta-analysis.
All studies had a cross-sectional design and found a negative association between
sleep duration and sugar in children, but not in adults. SSB intake was lower in those
with sufficient sleep in all populations. Compared with those with sufficient sleep,
children with short sleep duration had 16% (significant) higher odds of consuming
sugar (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.21), 21% higher odds of soda intake (OR: 1.21; 95%
CI: 1.16, 1.26), and 92% higher odds of consuming energy drink intake (OR: 1.92; 95%
CI: 1.66, 2.22). However, sleep duration was not significantly associated with soft
drink intake in children (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.48). In adults, the odds of drinking
soda in those with short sleep duration was 1.2 times more than in those with sufficient
sleep (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.28). Also, low vs. optimal sleep duration in adults
was associated with a 58% increased intake of energy drinks (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.31,
1.90). Of note, these findings in the adult population resulted from only 2 included
investigations, due to the limited number of studies.
Conclusion
The evidence reviewed supports a significant association between shorter sleep duration
and higher SSBs intake in both children and adults, while such association with higher
total sugar intake was significant in children but not in adults. Further research
with more accurate measurements, sex-specific, and prospective designs should be carried
out to clarify the causality and underlying mechanisms.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 22, 2022
Accepted:
July 18,
2022
Received in revised form:
July 17,
2022
Received:
May 4,
2020
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
