Prudent diet is associated with low sleepiness among short-haul truck drivers

Andressa J Martins; Lígia A Martini; Claudia R C Moreno

doi:10.1016/j.nut.2018.11.023

Prudent diet is associated with low sleepiness among short-haul truck drivers

Nutrition. 2019 Jul-Aug:63-64:61-68. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2018.11.023. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Authors

Andressa J Martins¹, Lígia A Martini², Claudia R C Moreno³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health, Life Cycles and Society, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
² Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Department of Health, Life Cycles and Society, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Stress Research Institute, University of Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: crmoreno@usp.br.

PMID: 30933727
DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2018.11.023

Abstract

Objectives: The lifestyle of postindustrial society has undergone major shifts characterized by changes in demographic and epidemiologic profiles, eating habits, and job structures, with irregular working hours, particularly night shifts. The investigation of dietary patterns is of great importance for the discussion and devising of effective dietary strategies for shift and night workers in general, particularly in view of the increased sleepiness reported during night work.

Objective: We aimed to determine the association between dietary patterns of Brazilian truck drivers and sleepiness levels, according to work shift.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 52 drivers (25 long haul and 27 short haul) at a freight company was carried out. This study entailed application of a structured questionnaire collecting sociodemographic, lifestyle, and nutritional status data. Assessment of dietary intake using a 24-h dietary recall and an evaluation of sleepiness by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale were performed. The principal components of the diet were analyzed by factor analysis to derive dietary patterns. A linear mixed model was then applied to determine a model for sleepiness levels of the drivers as a function of dietary pattern, time of day, and work shift.

Results: Three intake patterns were derived: traditional, prudent, and Western. Associations of time of day (F = 23.629, P < 0.01) and shift type (F = 42.218, P < 0.01) on sleepiness were found. An association between diet and sleepiness was also evident, where the prudent pattern was associated with low sleepiness among short-haul truck drivers (F = 3.865, P = 0.02).

Conclusions: The results of the present study revealed an association between dietary patterns and short-haul driving, in which the healthy pattern produced low sleepiness during the day. The sleepiness curve of long-haul drivers appears to have a flattening pattern, probably because of irregular working times.

Keywords: Dietary patterns; Eating behavior; Food consumption; Shiftwork; Sleepiness; Truck drivers.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Automobile Driving / psychology*
Brazil
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet, Healthy / methods*
Diet, Healthy / psychology
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Feeding Behavior / physiology*
Feeding Behavior / psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Vehicles
Shift Work Schedule / psychology
Time Factors
Wakefulness / physiology*
Work Schedule Tolerance / physiology*
Young Adult