1.
Exposure to recurrent sleep restriction in the setting of high caloric intake and physical inactivity results in increased insulin resistance and reduced glucose tolerance.
Nedeltcheva, AV, Kessler, L, Imperial, J, Penev, PD
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2009;94(9):3242-50
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Plain language summary
Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex disease influenced by genetic, environmental, metabolic and behavioural factors and is a rising burden in Westernised societies. Whether reduced sleep duration, in the context of a Western lifestyle, is associated with an increased incidence of T2D is unclear and available evidence is limited. The aim of this crossover study was to determine whether sleep restriction may result in a decreased glucose tolerance and reduced insulin secretion in 11 healthy middle-aged adults. Participants were restricted to 5.5 hours of sleep per night and glucose challenges and circulating plasma concentrations were used to measure hormonal and metabolic parameters. This study showed that recurrent short sleep times may facilitate the development of insulin resistance and reduced glucose tolerance. These findings suggest that combining the adverse metabolic effects of a Western lifestyle with chronically reduced sleep duration may increase the long-term risk of developing T2D.
Abstract
CONTEXT Epidemiological data indicate that reduced sleep duration is associated with increased incidence of type-2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that, when part of a Western-like lifestyle, recurrent bedtime restriction may result in decreased glucose tolerance and reduced insulin secretion and action. DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted a randomized crossover study at a university clinical research center and sleep research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS Eleven healthy volunteers (five females and six males) with a mean (+/-sd) age of 39 +/- 5 yr and body mass index of 26.5 +/- 1.5 kg/m(2) participated in the study. INTERVENTION The study included two 14-d periods of controlled exposure to sedentary living with ad libitum food intake and 5.5- or 8.5-h bedtimes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Oral and iv glucose challenges were used to obtain measures of glucose tolerance, glucose effectiveness, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity at the end of each intervention. Secondary measures included circulating concentrations of the glucose counter-regulatory hormones, cortisol, GH, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. RESULTS Bedtime restriction reduced daily sleep by 122 +/- 25 min. Both study periods were associated with comparable weight gain; however, recurrent sleep restriction resulted in reduced oral glucose tolerance (2-h glucose value, 144 +/- 25 vs. 132 +/- 36 mg/dl; P < 0.01) and insulin sensitivity [3.3 +/- 1.1 vs. 4.0 +/- 1.6 (mU/liter)(-1) x min(-1); P < 0.03], and increased glucose effectiveness (0.023 +/- 0.005 vs. 0.020 +/- 0.005 min(-1); P < 0.04). Although 24-h cortisol and GH concentrations did not change, there was a modest increase in 24-h epinephrine and nighttime norepinephrine levels during the 5.5-h bedtime condition. CONCLUSIONS Experimental bedtime restriction, designed to approximate the short sleep times experienced by many individuals in Westernized societies, may facilitate the development of insulin resistance and reduced glucose tolerance.