Cited by 518Coffee research and impactsSleep and related disordersSleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Coffee, caffeine, and sleep: a systematic review of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials

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Clark, Ian, Landolt, Hans Peter·2017·Sleep Medicine Reviews

Abstract

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world. It is readily available in coffee and other foods and beverages, and is used to mitigate sleepiness, enhance performance, and treat apnea in premature infants. This review systematically explores evidence from epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials as to whether coffee and caffeine have deleterious effects on sleep. Caffeine typically prolonged sleep latency, reduced total sleep time and sleep efficiency, and worsened perceived sleep quality. Slow-wave sleep and electroencephalographic (EEG) slow-wave activity were typically reduced, whereas stage-1, wakefulness, and arousals were increased. Dose- and timing-response relationships were established. The sleep of older adults may be more sensitive to caffeine compared to younger adults. Pronounced individual differences are also present in young people, and genetic studies isolated functional polymorphisms of genes implicated in adenosine neurotransmission and metabolism contributing to individual sensitivity to sleep disruption by caffeine. Most studies were conducted in male adults of Western countries, which limits the generalizability of the findings. Given the importance of good sleep for general health and functioning, longitudinal investigations aimed at establishing possible causal relationships among coffee- and caffeine-induced changes in sleep quality and health development are warranted.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.smrv.2016.01.006

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Authors
Clark, I., & Landolt, H. P.
Affiliations
University of Zurich (CH)
Corresponding author
Landolt, Hans Peter
Venue
Sleep Medicine Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-02
Volume
31
Pages
70-78
ISSN
1087-0792 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2268079051
Cited by
499
References
103
Citations by year
2026: 53 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 72 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 60 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 10
FWCI
3.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Sleep Medicine Reviews (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
  • Swiss National Science Foundation
  • Zürich Center for interdisciplinary Sleep Research
  • University of Zürich
  • Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology
  • Neuroscience Center Zürich
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Coffee research and impacts
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
Keywords
coffee, caffeine, sleep, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep quality, slow-wave sleep, EEG slow-wave activity, sleep disruption, dose-response relationship, individual differences, adenosine metabolism, genetic polymorphism, older adults
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Caffeine, Coffee, Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Sleep, Sleep Stages, Wakefulness, Epidemiologic Studies, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

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