Fruit and vegetable consumption is protective from short sleep and poor sleep quality among university students from 28 countries

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and sleep duration and sleep quality in university students. Methods: Using 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. Results: The 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. Conclusion: The 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.