The relationship of the dietary inflammatory index, glycemic load and glycemic index on sleep quality and anthropometric measurements in college students

Purpose This study aims to determine the relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII), healthy eating index (HEI), glycemic index and load (GI/GL) with sleep quality and anthropometric measurements in college students. Design/methodology/approach This was a cross-sectional study. With a type I error of 0.05, a type II error of 0.20, and a minimum power of 90%, the required sample size was calculated to be at least 112 students. However, considering that there might be missing data and that the study was being conducted to increase the power of the study, 500 students were recruited for the study. A total of 500 students (124 males, 376 females) aged 18–25 years were recruited for the study. The students’ socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, neck, waist and hip circumferences), sleep quality and three-day food consumption records were examined. Sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Findings The total PSQI score median value was 7 (1–17). In total, 65.4% of the students had poor, and 34.6% had good sleep quality. The minimum DII score was −9.67, and the maximum DII score was 10.41. The mean of DII was 2.51 ± 3.26. DII scores were evaluated by dividing them into quartiles. In DII Quartile 1, representing the anti-inflammatory diet, values were between −9.67 and +0.18; in DII Quartile 2, values were between +0.23 and +2.47; in DII Quartile 3, values were between +2.55 and +4.50; DII Quartile 4, representing the proinflammatory diet, values were between +4.52 and +10.41. Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio significantly differed between quartiles (Q1 < Q2 < Q3 < Q4 and Q2 < Q3 < Q4, respectively) ( p < 0.05). GL and HEI-2015 scores significantly differed between quartiles (Q1 < Q2 < Q3 < Q4 and Q1 > Q3 > Q4, respectively) ( p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between DII and GL ( r = +0.189, p < 0.001) and a significant negative correlation between DII and HEI-2015 ( r = −0.213, p < 0.001). Originality/value The study’s original aspect is that food consumption records were obtained instantaneously from the participants via social media, and the relationship of multiple indices (DII, HEI-2015, GI, GL) with each other and with sleep quality and anthropometric measurements were evaluated.