Sleep Deprivation and Energy Balance

May 11, 2023 updated by: Virend Somers, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic
Chronic sleep deprivation may constitute an important and potentially correctable behavioral factor in the alarming increase in obesity. There are no definitive experimental studies in humans showing whether sleep deprivation indeed contributes to increased energy intake and/or reduced energy expenditure. The investigators propose a series of novel studies to investigate abnormalities in energy homeostasis imparted by sleep deprivation. The investigators will measure food intake, energy expenditure (basal metabolic rate, thermal effect of food, and non-exercise activity thermogenesis), and neurohormone levels in 24 healthy subjects with normal BMI (20-25 kg/m2). Twelve subjects (6 men and 6 women) will be randomized to sleep deprivation. Measurements will be compared to those obtained in 12 subjects who are randomized to a control group, and are not sleep deprived. The investigators will test the following hypotheses: 1. That sleep deprivation results in positive energy balance (increased caloric intake and decreased energy expenditure, as reflected by decreased non-exercise activity thermogenesis). 2. That dysregulation of appetite and energy expenditure is associated with changes in molecules controlling appetite and metabolism. 3. That changes associated with 8 days of modest sleep deprivation resolve, at least in part, over a 4 day recovery period.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The demands of present day living have placed a high premium on time. Voluntary sleep curtailment is endemic and many adults typically sleep an average of six hours per night. Observational data suggest that short sleep duration is associated with a greater likelihood of being obese. Low grade chronic sleep deprivation may constitute an important and potentially correctable behavioral factor in the alarming increase in obesity. There are no definitive experimental studies in humans showing whether sleep deprivation indeed contributes to increased energy intake and/or reduced energy expenditure. The investigators propose a series of novel studies to investigate abnormalities in energy homeostasis imparted by sleep deprivation. These studies combine state-of-the-art techniques for monitoring sleep, food intake, energy expenditure and neuroendocrine energy regulation. The investigators will measure food intake, energy expenditure (basal metabolic rate, thermal effect of food, and non-exercise activity thermogenesis), and neurohormone levels in 24 healthy subjects with normal BMI (20-25 kg/m2). Twelve subjects (6 men and 6 women) will be randomized to sleep deprivation. After a 3 day baseline evaluation, these subjects will undergo 8 days of modest sleep deprivation followed by a 4 day recovery period. Measurements will be compared to those obtained in 12 subjects who are randomized to a control group, and are not sleep deprived. Sleep deprived and control subjects will be comparable for age and gender and will undergo similar monitoring and measurements in the Clinical Research Unit over the same duration. The investigators will test the following hypotheses: 1. That sleep deprivation results in positive energy balance (increased caloric intake and decreased energy expenditure, as reflected by decreased non-exercise activity thermogenesis). 2. That dysregulation of appetite and energy expenditure is associated with changes in molecules controlling appetite and metabolism. 3. That changes associated with 8 days of modest sleep deprivation resolve, at least in part, over a 4 day recovery period. This exploratory application builds on established research programs addressing first, neuroendocrine mechanisms in sleep and obesity, and second, the regulation of energy intake and energy expenditure in humans. These studies will provide novel and important insights into whether sleep deprivation promotes increased food intake and/or reduced activity levels, and into the potential role of molecules that regulate appetite and metabolism. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The investigators propose to examine whether two weeks of modest sleep restriction results in increased food intake and decreased energy expenditure, thus potentially predisposing to obesity. These findings will help explain whether the reduced sleep duration in the general population may be contributing to the current epidemic of obesity, and suggest novel strategies for weight control.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
17

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Minnesota
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
        • Mayo Clinic

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All subjects will be sedentary. Sedentary will be defined as those with an occupational calorie expenditure that is not estimated at greater than 50% above basal (desk job or light activity at work: on feet 30-50% of the work day) and whose exercise activity is defined as sedentary according to a self-reported activity questionnaire, and confirmed by actigraphy measurements. Sedentary lifestyle will be defined as fewer than four 20 min episodes of moderate or vigorous intensity activity in the previous four weeks.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • We will exclude subjects who have any medical or psychiatric disorders, including history of anxiety or depression, and those taking any medications.
  • Those found to have depression on a depression screening tool (BDI-II) will be excluded.
  • Current smokers will be excluded.
  • All female subjects will undergoing a screening pregnancy test and excluded if positive.
  • Subjects found to have significant sleep disorders will be excluded. -
  • Subjects found to have occult coronary artery disease by exercise treadmill testing will be excluded.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: sleep deprivation
These are subjects who are randomized to undergo sleep deprivation.
Other: sleep deprivation
Sleep restriction
Other Names:
  • sleep restriction
Other: Normal sleep
These are subjects who are randomized to sleep normally.
Other: Normal sleep
These are subjects who are randomized to sleep normally.
Other Names:
  • control

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sleep Deprivation results in positive energy balance
Time Frame: 15 days
The investigators are testing the hypothesis that sleep deprivation results in increased caloric intake (calories from food consumed) and reduced energy expenditure (calories burned), resulting in a net positive energy balance.
15 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Mayo Clinic

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Erik K St Louis, MD, Mayo Clinic

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 1, 2008

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2010

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 26, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 12, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 13, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 12, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 11, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 08-006780
  • R21HL096071-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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