Association between Sleep Disturbances and Liver Status in Obese Subjects with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comparison with Healthy Controls.

Nutrients. 2019;11(2)
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Inadequate sleep has been associated with poor health outcomes such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The relevance of sleep patterns in the onset or progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is poorly understood. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between sleep characteristics and liver health in obese people with NAFLD compared to normal weight people without NAFLD. 94 overweight or obese patients with NAFLD and 40 normal weight people without NAFLD were enrolled in the study. Measures of liver health such as liver stiffness and levels of liver enzymes were assessed, along with sleep features evaluated using a Sleep Quality Index (SQI). A higher prevalence of short sleep duration and poor sleep quality were found in people with NAFLD. Sleep disturbance or sleep quality predicted up to 20.3% and 20.4% of the variability of liver stiffness, respectively, after adjusting for other factors. The authors of the study suggest that sleep disruption may be contributing to the development of NAFLD, and/or the alteration of the liver may be affecting sleep patterns. Consequently, sleep may be a modifiable behaviour to consider in the prevention and management of NAFLD.

Abstract

The relevance of sleep patterns in the onset or evolution of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still poorly understood. Our aim was to investigate the association between sleep characteristics and hepatic status indicators in obese people with NAFLD compared to normal weight non-NAFLD controls. Ninety-four overweight or obese patients with NAFLD and 40 non-NAFLD normal weight controls assessed by abdominal ultrasonography were enrolled. Hepatic status evaluation considered liver stiffness determined by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse elastography (ARFI) and transaminases. Additionally, anthropometric measurements, clinical characteristics, and biochemical profiles were determined. Sleep features were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Hepatic status parameters, anthropometric measurements, and clinical and biochemical markers differed significantly in NAFLD subjects compared to controls, as well as sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance score, and sleep quality score. In the NAFLD group, a higher prevalence of short sleep duration (p = 0.005) and poor sleep quality (p = 0.041) were found. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for NAFLD considering sleep disturbance was 1.59 (1.11⁻2.28). Regression models that included either sleep disturbance or sleep quality predicted up to 20.3% and 20.4% of the variability of liver stiffness, respectively, and after adjusting for potential confounders. Current findings suggest that sleep disruption may be contributing to the pathogenesis of NAFLD as well as the alteration of the liver may be affecting sleep patterns. Consequently, sleep characteristics may be added to the list of modifiable behaviors to consider in health promotion strategies and in the prevention and management of NAFLD.

Lifestyle medicine

Fundamental Clinical Imbalances : Hormonal ; Immune and inflammation
Patient Centred Factors : Mediators/Sleep
Environmental Inputs : Mind and spirit
Personal Lifestyle Factors : Sleep and relaxation
Functional Laboratory Testing : Blood
Bioactive Substances : Leptin ; Adiponectin ; Alanine aminotransferase ; ALT

Methodological quality

Allocation concealment : Not applicable
Publication Type : Journal Article

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