Pre-Workout Supplement Use Linked to Significantly Shorter sleep inโ Young Adults
A recent study has found a โคstrong association between โฃpre-workout supplement use and very short sleep duration in adolescents and young adults.โค researchers analyzedโฃ data from a demographically diverse group with a mean age of 23.4 years (SD 3.8),โข finding that 22.2% reported using โคpre-workoutโ supplements in teh past year.
The study โคcategorized โฃsleep patterns over the previous two weeks,revealingโฃ that approximately 34.9% โขaveraged around seven hours of sleep per night.However,a concerning 10.6% reported consistently getting five hours โฃor โขless of sleep. Participants’ demographics included 57.4% identifying asโ girls and โขyoung women,โ 33.8% as โboys andโค young men,โ and 8.8% as transgenderโ or gender-expansive, with racial/ethnic depiction โof 62.2% White, 17.1% Asian,3.5% Black, 11.0% multiracial, and 6.2% other. โ Theโ majority (55.1%) identified โคas โขheterosexual.
Using multinomial logistic regression,researchers adjusted forโค factors like demographics,mental health symptoms (measured using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales),and recent weight training (within theโ prior 30 days). Despite these adjustments, pre-workout use remained โa significant โฃpredictor of very โshortโ sleep.โค specifically,individuals โคwho used pre-workout supplements were more than twice โas likelyโข to report sleeping five hours orโค less compared to those who typicallyโ slept eightโข hours a night. No significant relationships were found between โpre-workout useโ and sleep durationsโ of six, seven, or nine-plus hours.
The study’s statistical model demonstrated good fit, with โVariance Inflation Factors (VIFs) indicating minimal multicollinearity (all VIFs โค<2, except for the โขcorrelated PHQ-9โค and GAD-7). Effect modification by gender was not statistically significant.โค Analyses were conducted using Stata 17.0.
Researchersโ suggest the findings alignโ with the known effects of caffeine, a common ingredient in โpre-workout supplements, which can disrupt sleep-wake โฃcycles. Thisโฃ is especially relevant for students and young professionalsโข who exercise late in the day, consuming pre-workout close โคto bedtime.
While the cross-sectional design prevents definitive conclusions about cause and effect – it’s possible that individuals with pre-existing sleep deprivationโค may be more likely to use pre-workouts โฃfor an energy โboost โ- theโข strength of the association is noteworthy. The study highlights that even occasional pre-workout use could โขcontribute to insufficient sleep, especially given that fewerโฃ than one in three participantsโ met the recommended eight hours or more of sleep perโฃ night.
The study authors emphasize the โneed for practical guidance regarding pre-workout timing, dosage, and strategies toโข protect sleep. Recommendations โคinclude avoiding pre-workout consumption close to bedtime, carefully reviewing caffeineโ content on product labels, and prioritizingโ good sleep hygiene practices. Future research should focus onโ prospective studies to investigate the specific effects of dose,โ timing, and ingredient combinations on sleep, ultimately informing targeted education, policy, and clinical interventions.
