Fruit and Vegetable Consumption is Protective from Short Sleep and Poor Sleep Quality Among University Students from 28 Countries.

Abstract

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and sleep duration and sleep quality in university students.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional study design, 21,027 university students with a median age of 20 years from 28 countries replied to self-reported measures of FV consumption and sleep duration and quality.ResultsThe prevalence of short and long sleep was 38.9% and 12.8%, respectively, and the prevalence of poor sleep quality was 9.6% and restless sleep 19.7%. There was a linear decrease in the prevalence of short sleep with increasing FV consumption beyond ≥2 FV servings/day (vs 0–1 FV servings/day). Consuming 2 FV servings/day (vs 0–1 FV servings/day) was associated with a 21% decreased (ARRR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.70–0.80) and 7 or more FV servings/day with a 33% decreased odds (ARRR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.55–0.81) for short sleep. Consuming 5 FV servings/day (vs 0–1 FV servings/day) was associated with a 34% decreased (ARRR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.51–0.84) and 7 or more FV servings/day with a 34% decreased odds (ARRR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.50–0.88) for long sleep. In the final adjusted logistic regression model, consuming 3 FV servings/day (vs 0–1 FV servings/day) was associated with a 49% decreased (AOR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.42–0.0.62) and 7 or more FV servings/day with a 30% decreased odds (AOR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53–0.93) for poor sleep quality. Consuming 5 FV servings/day (vs 0–1 FV servings/day) was associated with a 34% decreased odds (AOR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.54–0.81) for restless sleep.ConclusionThe study extended previous findings of an association between inadequate FV consumption and short sleep and an inverse association between FV consumption and poor sleep quality and restless sleep.