For example, a carbohydrate - rich meal in the evening was found to delay the circadian rhythm of core body temperature and reduce nocturnal melatonin secretion.30 This is relevant, since sleep propensity and quality are highest
near the declining limb of the core body temperature
curve when melatonin
levels are increased.31, 32 Although body temperature and melatonin were not
recorded in the current study, these effects would be consistent with an increase in SOL on night 5 and the association with nocturnal arousals observed here.