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Altering meal timing to improve cognitive performance during simulated nightshifts.

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dc.contributor.authorGupta, C.C.
dc.contributor.authorCentofanti, S.
dc.contributor.authorDorrian, J.
dc.contributor.authorCoates, A.
dc.contributor.authorStepien, J.M.
dc.contributor.authorKennaway, D.
dc.contributor.authorWittert, G.
dc.contributor.authorHeilbronn, L.
dc.contributor.authorCatcheside, P.
dc.contributor.authorNoakes, M.
dc.contributor.authorCoro, D.
dc.contributor.authorChandrakumar, D.
dc.contributor.authorBanks, S.
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractAltering meal timing could improve cognition, alertness, and thus safety during the nightshift. This study investigated the differential impact of consuming a meal, snack, or not eating during the nightshift on cognitive performance (ANZCTR12615001107516). 39 healthy participants (59% male, age mean±SD: 24.5 ± 5.0y) completed a 7-day laboratory study and underwent four simulated nightshifts. Participants were randomly allocated to: Meal at Night (MN; n= 12), Snack at Night (SN; n = 13) or No Eating at Night (NE; n = 14). At 00:30 h, MN consumed a meal and SN consumed a snack (30% and 10% of 24 h energy intake respectively). NE did not eat during the nightshift. Macronutrient intake was constant across conditions. At 20:00 h, 22:30 h, 01:30 h, and 04:00 h, participants completed the 3-min Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT-B), 40-min driving simulator, post-drive PVT-B, subjective sleepiness scale, 2-choice Reaction Time task, and Running Memory task. Objective sleep was recorded for each of the day sleeps using Actigraphy and for the third day sleep, Polysomnography was used. Performance was compared between conditions using mixed model analyses. Significant two-way interactions were found. At 04:00 h, SN displayed increased time spent in the safe zone (p < .001; percentage of time spent within 10 km/h of the speed limit and 0.8 m of lane center), and decreases in speed variability (p < .001), lane variability (p < .001), post-drive PVT-B lapses (defined as RT > 355 ms; p < .001), and reaction time on the 2-choice reaction time task (p < .001) and running memory task (p < .001) compared to MN and NE. MN reported greater subjective sleepiness at 04:00 h (p < .001) compared to SN and NE. There was no difference in objective sleep between eating conditions. Eating a large meal during the nightshift impairs cognitive performance and sleepiness above the effects of time of night alone. For improved performance, shiftworkers should opt for a snack at night.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityCharlotte C Gupta, Stephanie Centofanti, Jillian Dorrian, Alison Coates, Jacqueline M Stepien, David Kennawayd, Gary Wittert, Leonie Heilbronn, Peter Catcheside, Manny Noakes, Daniel Coro, Dilushi Chandrakumar and Siobhan Banks
dc.identifier.citationChronobiology International, 2019; 36(2):1-23
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/07420528.2019.1676256
dc.identifier.issn0742-0528
dc.identifier.issn1525-6073
dc.identifier.orcidKennaway, D. [0000-0002-5864-3514]
dc.identifier.orcidWittert, G. [0000-0001-6818-6065]
dc.identifier.orcidHeilbronn, L. [0000-0003-2106-7303]
dc.identifier.orcidCatcheside, P. [0000-0002-9372-6788]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/121711
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1099077
dc.rights© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2019.1676256
dc.subjectShiftwork
dc.subjectchrono-nutrition
dc.subjectcognitive performance
dc.subjectdriving
dc.subjectmeal timing
dc.titleAltering meal timing to improve cognitive performance during simulated nightshifts.
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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