HormonesMelatonin

Eveningness tendency and higher night eating scores are associated with poorer sleep quality in adults, while dietary melatonin intake is not associated with sleep quality after adjustment for covariates.

In a cross-sectional study of 325 adults in Istanbul, higher Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) scores were positively associated with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores (B=0.198, β=0.491, 95% CI: 0.156-0.239, p<0.001), indicating worse sleep quality. Lower Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) scores (eveningness) were negatively associated with PSQI scores (B=-0.067, β=-0.189, 95% CI: -0.102 to -0.032, p<0.001), also indicating worse sleep quality. Estimated dietary melatonin intake (mean 10.485 ± 13.306 μg/day) was not significantly associated with sleep quality after adjustment.

Last updated: Aug 29, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Dietary melatonin, chronotype, and night eating syndrome in relation to sleep quality among adults.

observational

Geylani S, Demirel Ozbek Y, Arslan N · Frontiers in nutrition (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Cross-sectional (November 2024 - June 2025)
Intervention: None (observational study); assessed dietary melatonin intake, chronotype, and night eating behaviors.
Outcome: Sleep quality measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); night eating behaviors (NEQ); chronotype (MEQ); dietary melatonin intake.
Effect Size: B=0.198 (NEQ-PSQI), B=-0.067 (MEQ-PSQI); OR=1.328 (PSQI for night eating syndrome risk), OR=0.941 (MEQ for night eating syndrome risk)
Population: Adults aged 18-65 years (n=325) in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Result:

PubMed: 42662821DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1890075

Mechanism Graph

Eveningness tendency (lower MEQ) is associated with poorer sleep quality.
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Higher night eating scores (NEQ) are associated with poorer sleep quality.
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Chronotype may influence night eating behaviors, which in turn affect sleep quality (indirect association).
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Dietary melatonin intake does not appear to mediate these associations.

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference.
  • ⚠Dietary melatonin intake estimated via food frequency questionnaire may have measurement error.
  • ⚠Sample limited to adults in Istanbul, limiting generalizability.
  • ⚠Residual confounding from unmeasured variables possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does dietary melatonin improve sleep quality?▼

In this study, estimated dietary melatonin intake was not associated with sleep quality after adjusting for covariates, suggesting no independent benefit.

What is the relationship between chronotype and sleep quality?▼

Eveningness tendency (lower MEQ score) was associated with poorer sleep quality (higher PSQI score), with a negative correlation (r=-0.159, p=0.004).

Are night eating behaviors linked to sleep quality?▼

Yes, higher Night Eating Questionnaire scores were positively correlated with PSQI scores (r=0.537, p<0.001), indicating worse sleep quality.

What was the average dietary melatonin intake in this study?▼

The mean total dietary melatonin intake was 10.485 ± 13.306 μg/day.

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References

  1. 1.Geylani S, Demirel Ozbek Y, Arslan N. "Dietary melatonin, chronotype, and night eating syndrome in relation to sleep quality among adults.." Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. PMID: 42662821 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1890075
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.