Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39377163›Full record

Trial reportSleep2025

Dose and timing effects of caffeine on subsequent sleep: a randomized clinical crossover trial.

Carissa L Gardiner, Jonathon Weakley, Louise M Burke, Francesca Fernandez, Rich D Johnston, Josh Leota, Suzanna Russell, Gabriella Munteanu, Andrew Townshend, Shona L Halson

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Sleep, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
24citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

24 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  12. The multidimensional effects of sleep quality in young adults: the relationship between auditory performance, sound tolerance, and anxiety.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
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  19. A Mixed Method Study Exploring Children and Young People's Perception of Energy Drinks and Analysing Consumption Patterns.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Carissa L GardinerSchool of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1656-9878
Jonathon WeakleySchool of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
Louise M BurkeExercise and Nutrition Research Program, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Francesca FernandezSchool of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
Rich D JohnstonSchool of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
Josh LeotaSchool of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Suzanna RussellSchool of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
Gabriella MunteanuSchool of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
Andrew TownshendSchool of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
Shona L HalsonSchool of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1047-3878

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

objectivesTo investigate the effect of a typical dose of caffeine and a high dose of caffeine consumed in the morning, afternoon, and evening on subsequent sleep.

methodsUsing a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized crossover design, 23 males (25.3 ± 5.0 years) with a moderate habitual caffeine intake (<300 mg∙day-1) completed seven conditions: placebo, and 100 and 400 mg of caffeine consumed 12, 8, and 4 hours prior to bedtime, with a 48-hour washout. In-home partial polysomnography and sleep diaries were used to assess sleep. Linear mixed models estimated the effect of each condition.

resultsNo significant effect on objective or subjective sleep occurred with the 100 mg dose of caffeine compared with the placebo (p > .05), but significant effects occurred with the 400 mg dose (p < .05). Significant delays in sleep initiation and alterations to sleep architecture were observed when 400 mg was consumed within 12 hours of bedtime (p < .05), and significantly greater sleep fragmentation occurred when 400 mg was consumed within 8 hours of bedtime (p < .05). Additionally, perceived sleep quality was significantly reduced when 400 mg was consumed 4 hours prior to bedtime (-34.02%, p = .006) but not at 8 or 12 hours.

conclusionsA 100 mg dose of caffeine can be consumed up to 4 hours prior to bedtime, but 400 mg may negatively impact sleep when consumed as one dose within 12 hours of bedtime, with the adverse influence on sleep increasing the closer consumption occurs to bedtime. The discrepancy between objective and subjective sleep quality suggests that individuals may have difficulty accurately perceiving the influence of caffeine on sleep quality. CLINICAL

trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, registration number: ACTRN12621001625864, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12621001625864.

Indexed as

CaffeineCentral Nervous System StimulantsSleepAdultCross-Over StudiesDose-Response Relationship, DrugDouble-Blind MethodHumansMalePolysomnographySleep QualityTime FactorsYoung AdultCaffeineCentral Nervous System Stimulantsadenosinesleep behaviorssleep disruptionsleepinesssleep recommendations

Identifiers

PMID39377163
PMCPMC11985402

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.