Eating a high-protein breakfast made people sleep less, but they felt like they slept better and fell asleep faster — even though their actual sleep quality didn’t change.

Scientific Claim

In healthy young professionals (n=13), the impact of a high-protein breakfast on sleep outcomes is inconsistent: total sleep time decreased significantly, perceived sleep quality and onset tended to improve, but sleep efficiency remained unchanged, suggesting complex and multifactorial effects.

Original Statement

“Although the consumption of a HP breakfast led to less total sleep time (actigraphy: 381±13 min) vs. SKIP (actigraphy: 417±14min, p < 0.05)... perceived sleep quality and sleep onset tended to improve... no differences in sleep efficiency were detected.”

From study:A pilot study assessing whether the consumption of a protein‐rich breakfast improves appetite control, eating behavior, and sleep quality compared to skipping breakfast in healthy young professionals

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

probability

Can suggest probability/likelihood

Assessment Explanation

The authors correctly describe mixed outcomes without overgeneralizing. The claim accurately reflects the data’s complexity and uses appropriate probabilistic language.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

A pilot study assessing whether the consumption of a protein‐rich breakfast improves appetite control, eating behavior, and sleep quality compared to skipping breakfast in healthy young professionals

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

This study found that eating a high-protein breakfast made people sleep a little less, but they felt like they slept better and fell asleep faster—even though how well they slept overall didn’t change. This matches the claim that the effects are mixed and complicated.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

A pilot study assessing whether the consumption of a protein‐rich breakfast improves appetite control, eating behavior, and sleep quality compared to skipping breakfast in healthy young professionals

Score: 46

DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.443.1

Similar Assertions

Even though people slept less after eating a high-protein breakfast, their sleep was just as deep and uninterrupted — they just went to bed and woke up earlier.

94%

Even though people slept less after eating a high-protein breakfast, they didn't wake up more often or have worse sleep quality — their sleep was just shorter.

92%

People who eat a high-protein breakfast might feel like they fell asleep faster and slept better, but the numbers aren't strong enough to say for sure.

89%

These results only apply to healthy, young, professional adults — we don’t know if they’d work for older people, shift workers, or those with health problems.

84%

People who eat a high-protein breakfast sleep about 36 minutes less per night than when they skip breakfast, but the quality of their sleep doesn't change.

83%