THE IMPACT OF BMAL1 GENE POLYMORPHISM ON SLEEP QUALITY IN HEALTHY CHINESE YOUTH: A GENDER-SPECIFIC ANALYSIS.

Abstract

Objective: Epidemiological studies suggest that brain and muscle Arnt-like protein-1 (BMAL1) gene may impact sleep quality. However, research on this relationship among Chinese youth is limited. This study aimed to explore the relationship between BMAL1 gene polymorphism and sleep quality among Chinese youth.

Methods: We employed a cross-sectional design to genotype four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the BMAL1 gene using peripheral blood samples from 2715 college students. Questionnaires were used to collect demographic information about the participants, and sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Logistic regression was employed for association analysis, considering interactions between genes and the environment.

Results: Overall, no significant correlation was found between BMAL1 polymorphism and sleep quality. However, quantitative trait analysis showed higher sleep latency scores in rs9633835 AA and AG genotype carriers, in the PSQI. Gender stratification analysis linked rs7107287 to sleep quality, particularly in men (OR 0.747, 95% CI, 0.5740-0.973, P=0.030, dominant model). Among men, rs7107287 AA mutant homozygous carriers had higher sleep efficiency and daytime dysfunction scores, while among women; rs9633835 AG heterozygous carriers had higher sleep latency scores. Further interaction analyses showed that sleep quality was significantly influenced by the multiplicative interaction between rs7107287 and physical exercise in men, whereas it was significantly influenced by the multiplicative interaction between rs7107287 and mental condition in women.

Conclusions: These findings suggest an association between BMAL1 gene polymorphisms and sleep quality in Chinese youth, with notable gender differences. Moreover, sleep quality appears to be affected by multiple interactions between genes and the environment.