Background: Preclinical studies have suggested that dietary creatine may affect sleep quality yet no studies have explored the potential association between creatine consumption and sleep patterns or disorders in the general population. Aim: This cross-sectional study aims to examine the association between creatine consumption and sleep habits and disorders among individuals aged 16 years and older, using data from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: The analysis included 5988 individuals (50.5% females) with a mean age of 47.4 ± 19.5 years. Daily creatine intake was assessed through individual in-person 24-h food recall interviews, categorizing respondents into two groups: those with suboptimal creatine intake (<1.00 g per day) and those meeting recommended intake (dietary creatine ≥ 1.00 g per day). Sleep was evaluated during household interviews using questions on sleep habits and disorders from the NHANES Sleep Disorders component. Results: The average daily creatine intake among participants was 0.88 ± 0.85 g (95% CI, 0.86 to 0.90), while the mean nightly sleep duration was 6.8 ± 1.5 h (95% CI, 6.8 to 6.9). Additionally, 1331 respondents (22.2%) reported consulting a doctor or health professional for sleep-related issues. Participants with suboptimal creatine intake had a significantly higher prevalence of trouble sleeping compared to those consuming recommended amounts (23.7% vs 19.3%; P < 0.01), with an odds ratio of 1.30 (95% CI: 1.13 to 1.48) for experiencing sleep disturbances. However, the prevalence of more severe sleep disorders did not differ significantly between the two creatine sub-populations (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that participants meeting recommended creatine intake levels had a reduced risk of experiencing mild sleeping difficulties. These findings may serve as a basis for future interventional studies aimed at validating and confirming the potential benefits of dietary creatine in the field of sleep medicine.
Keywords: NHANES; creatine; diet; sleep; sleep disorder.