A COMPARISON OF FEEDING TO CEPHALIC STIMULATION ON POSTPRANDIAL SLEEPINESS

This study investigated the effects of ingestion of a meal compared to a ham feeding on objectively measured sleepiness. It was hypothesized that the ingestion of a solid meal would produce significantly greate r postprandial sleepiness evidenced by shorter sleep onset latencies ( SOL.) when compared to a sham feeding. Eleven men and eight women with out evidence of gastrointestinal disease or sleep disorders participat ed in the 2-day study. Subjects underwent a premeal baseline nap at 16 00 hours and were given a standardized, meal at 1700 hours. On one stu dy day, subjects consumed the entire meal, whereas on another study da y, they were asked to chew and then expectorate the meal. Naps with po lysomnographic monitoring followed at 1730, 1800, and 1900 hours. Slee p onset latencies were determined by standard polysomnographic measure s. Statistical analyses revealed the sleep onset latencies for the two meal conditions differed significantly at the 1800 hours postprandial nap only. Individuals demonstrated a transient decrease in sleep late ncy after consuming a meal compared to a sham feeding. These results l end support to the existence of a gastrointestinal effect on postprand ial sleepiness. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.