Short sleep duration, glucose dysregulation and hormonal regulation of appetite in men and women

Abstract

Study objective: To determine the hormonal effects of reducing sleep duration under controlled feeding conditions.

Design: Randomized, crossover study.

Setting: Inpatient.

Participants: Twenty-seven normal weight, 30- to 45-yr-old men and women habitually sleeping 7-9 hr/night.

Intervention: PARTICIPANTS WERE STUDIED UNDER TWO SLEEP CONDITIONS: short (4 hr in bed) or habitual (9 hr in bed) sleep. A controlled diet was provided for each 4-day study period.

Measurements and results: Fasting blood samples were obtained daily and frequent blood samples were obtained throughout day 4. The main outcomes measures included glucose, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, total glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY(3-36) (PYY(3-36)) concentrations. Body weights were reduced by 2.2 ± 0.4 lb and 1.7 ± 0.4 lb during the habitual and short sleep phases, respectively (both P < 0.0001). There was no effect of sleep duration on glucose, insulin, and leptin profiles (all P > 0.05). Ghrelin and GLP-1 responses differed by sex. Short sleep increased fasting (P = 0.054) and morning (08:00-12:00) (P = 0.042) total ghrelin in men but not women. The reverse was observed for GLP-1: afternoon levels (12:30-19:00) were lower (P = 0.016) after short sleep compared with habitual sleep in women but not men.

Conclusions: These data suggest that, in the context of negative energy balance, short sleep does not lead to a state of increased insulin resistance, but may predispose to overeating via separate mechanisms in men and women.

Clinical trial information: Trial registration on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. #NCT00935402.

Keywords: Ghrelin; hormonal regulation; leptin; sleep.

Figures

Figure 1

Total ghrelin concentration during a day of frequent blood sampling after 3 nights of either habitual (9 hr in bed, black squares) or short (4 hr in bed, white squares) sleep in men (panel A) and women (panel B). Time is presented as min from fasting sample. Fasting sample was taken at 08:00. Meals and snack were served after the 0, 240, and 480 min blood draw and at 660 min. Bedtimes were at 840 min (habitual sleep) and 1,020 min (short sleep) relative to the fasting blood draw (equivalent to 22:00 and 01:00 for habitual and short sleep, respectively). Higher morning ghrelin levels were observed after short sleep relative to habitual sleep in men; no differences between sleep periods were observed in women. Data are unadjusted means and SEM, n = 14 men or 13 women.

Figure 2

Total GLP-1 concentration during a day of frequent blood sampling after 3 nights of either habitual (9 hr in bed, black squares) or short (4 hr in bed, white squares) sleep in men (panel A) and women (panel B). Time is presented as mins from fasting sample. Fasting sample was taken at 08:00. Meals and snack were served after the 0, 240, and 480 min blood draw and at 660 min. Bedtimes were at 840 min (habitual sleep) and 1,020 min (short sleep) relative to the fasting blood draw (equivalent to 22:00 and 01:00 for habitual and short sleep, respectively). Morning (P = 0.10) and night time levels (P = 0.12) tended to be lower and afternoon levels were significantly lower (P = 0.016) during short sleep compared with habitual sleep in women whereas in men, afternoon GLP-1 concentrations tended to be higher after short sleep than habitual sleep (P = 0.10). Data are unadjusted means and SEM, n = 14 men or 13 women.