Abstract
The relationship between circulating fatty acid (FA) composition and childhood sleep disturbance remains largely unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of erythrocyte membrane FA composition with prevalence of sleep disturbance in Chinese children and adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2337 school-aged children and adolescents who completed a clinical assessment in Beijing, China. Presence of sleep disturbance was self-reported or parent-reported by questionnaires. Erythrocyte FAs were measured by gas chromatography, and desaturase activities were estimated by FA ratios. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sleep disturbance across FA quartiles were calculated by a logistical regression model. We found higher proportions of erythrocyte phospholipid 24:0, 24:1n-9, and lower proportions of total n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in participants with sleep disturbance compared with those without. In the logistical regression models, significant inverse associations were found for total n-3 PUFA, 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, the highest versus lowest quartile ORs and 95% CIs were 0.57 (0.40, 0.82), 0.67 (0.47, 0.97) and 0.69 (0.49, 0.96), respectively. For per 1 SD difference of proportion, OR and 95% CI of prevalence of sleep disturbance was 0.91 (0.86, 0.97) for total n-3 PUFA, 0.90 (0.82, 0.98) for 22:5n-3, and 0.92 (0.86, 0.99) for 22:6n-3, respectively. No significant association was found for saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids or FA ratios. The present study suggested that erythrocyte n-3 PUFAs, especially 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, are inversely associated with prevalence of sleep disturbance in Chinese children and adolescents.
Highlights
Appropriate sleep is generally important for children’s general health and plays important roles in emotion management, physical and mental function, and immune system [1,2]
The present study suggested that erythrocyte n-3 polyunsaturated Fatty acids (FAs) (PUFA), especially 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, are inversely associated with prevalence of sleep disturbance in Chinese children and adolescents
Total n-3 PUFA, 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 were inversely associated with prevalence of sleep disturbance, and these findings were robust in different multivariable-adjusted models
Summary
Appropriate sleep is generally important for children’s general health and plays important roles in emotion management, physical and mental function, and immune system [1,2]. Epidemiological studies reported that sleep disturbances, including dyssomnias, parasomnias and circadian rhythm sleep disorders, are common in children and adolescents aged 8–18 years, with reported prevalence of these sleep problems varying from 16% to 47% [3,4,5]. Certain cases of sleep disturbances occurring in school age have been linked with declined academic performance [6,7], poor mood regulation [8,9], elevated crash rates [10,11], and even higher risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes [12,13,14]. The 22:6n-3 could facilitate the release of serotonin [19,20], which is known as the precursor of a sleep-inducing indolamine, melatonin
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