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. 2024 May 10;17(3):e235-e243.
doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1780501. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Sleep Quality among Lebanese University Students

Affiliations

Association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Sleep Quality among Lebanese University Students

Zeina El-Ali et al. Sleep Sci. .

Abstract

Objective The association between sleep quality and overall health has been extensively examined. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between sleep and the inflammatory potential of the diet. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to explore the association between the scores on the Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) and sleep quality in Lebanese university students. Materials and Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study with students attending the Tripoli campus of Beirut Arab University. A total of 270 students aged between 17 and 25 years were randomly selected. All students filled out a multicomponent questionnaire that included an assessment of their sleep quality using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, and of their physical activity level using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The scores on the E-DII were calculated based on a validated food frequency questionnaire. Results Individuals in the highest (most proinflammatory) quartile of the E-DII were at an increased risk of having poor overall sleep quality compared with the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR] = 2.86; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.27-6.44). Regarding the individual domains of sleep quality, subjects in quartiles 3 and 4 of the E-DII were at an increased risk of having poor sleep efficiency compared with those in quartile 1 (OR = 2.49; 95%CI: 1.12-5.54; and OR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.13-5.62 respectively). However, individuals in quartile 3 were at a reduced risk of having daytime dysfunction compared with those in the lowest quartile (OR = 0.44; 95%CI: 0.23-0.83). Conclusion The inflammatory potential of the diet seems to be related to sleep quality in our sample of Lebanese university students. Future prospective studies are required to further explore this association.

Keywords: diet; inflammation; sleep quality; university students.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interests Dr. James R. Hébert wishes to disclose that he owns controlling interest in Connecting Health Innovations LLC (CHI), a company that has licensed the right to his invention of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) from the University of South Carolina to develop computer and smartphone applications for patient counseling and dietary intervention in clinical settings. Connecting Health Innovations LLC owns exclusive rights to the E-DIITM. The subject matter of the present paper will not have any direct bearing on that work, nor has that activity exerted any influence on this project. The authors have no other potential competing interests to disclose.

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Grants and funding

Funding Source Dr. Hébert and Dr. Wirth were funded, in part, by the US National Cancer Institute grant U01 CA272977.

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