Abstract
Caffeine is commonly consumed to help offset fatigue, however, it can have several negative effects on sleep quality and quantity. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between caffeine consumption and sleep quality in adults using a newly validated caffeine food frequency questionnaire (C-FFQ). In this cross sectional study, 80 adults (M ± SD: 38.9 ± 19.3 years) attended the University of South Australia to complete a C-FFQ and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Caffeine consumption remained stable across age groups while the source of caffeine varied. Higher total caffeine consumption was associated with decreased time in bed, as an estimate of sleep time (r = −0.229, p = 0.041), but other PSQI variables were not. Participants who reported poor sleep (PSQI global score ≥ 5) consumed 192.1 ± 122.5 mg (M ± SD) of caffeine which was significantly more than those who reported good sleep quality (PSQI global score < 5; 125.2 ± 62.6 mg; p = 0.008). The C-FFQ was found to be a quick but detailed way to collect population based caffeine consumption data. The data suggests that shorter sleep is associated with greater caffeine consumption, and that consumption is greater in adults with reduced sleep quality.
Highlights
Caffeine is a widely consumed stimulant that is found in a variety of commonly consumed foods and beverages such as chocolate, soft drink, tea, and coffee
The current study found that caffeine consumption did not change dramatically across the lifespan, with only energy drinks changing significantly across age groups
This study demonstrates the importance of accurately measuring caffeine sources as patterns of consumption can differ across the lifespan
Summary
Caffeine is a widely consumed stimulant that is found in a variety of commonly consumed foods and beverages such as chocolate, soft drink (soda), tea, and coffee. Caffeine is commonly used as a fatigue countermeasure [1]. Due to its action on adenosine receptors [2,3] caffeine improves alertness [4]. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed that on average in 2011/2012 Australian adults aged 19–70 years had daily caffeine intakes ranging between 103 and 183 mg per day [5], with coffee being the most common source of caffeine [5]. There are no consumption guidelines for caffeine in Australia. It is important to examine the impact caffeine has on our sleep to make more informed recommendations on consumption and to better understand the impact in roles where caffeine consumption is higher
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