Adverse Metabolic Consequences in Humans of Prolonged Sleep Restriction Combined with Circadian Disruption

TLDR

Epidemiological studies link short sleep duration and circadian disruption with higher risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. The study tested whether prolonged sleep restriction combined with circadian disruption, as experienced by shift workers, impairs glucose regulation and metabolism. Healthy adults underwent >5 weeks of controlled laboratory conditions: an initial baseline of optimal sleep, 3 weeks of 5.6‑hour sleep per 24 hours with recurring 28‑hour “days,” followed by 9 days of recovery sleep and circadian re‑entrainment. Exposure to prolonged sleep restriction with concurrent circadian disruption decreased resting metabolic rate and raised post‑meal plasma glucose due to inadequate insulin secretion, but these effects normalized after nine days of recovery sleep and circadian re‑entrainment, indicating that such conditions alter metabolism and may increase obesity and diabetes risk.

Abstract

Epidemiological studies link short sleep duration and circadian disruption with higher risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. We tested the hypotheses that prolonged sleep restriction with concurrent circadian disruption, as can occur in people performing shift work, impairs glucose regulation and metabolism. Healthy adults spent >5 weeks under controlled laboratory conditions in which they experienced an initial baseline segment of optimal sleep, 3 weeks of sleep restriction (5.6 hours of sleep per 24 hours) combined with circadian disruption (recurring 28-hour "days"), followed by 9 days of recovery sleep with circadian re-entrainment. Exposure to prolonged sleep restriction with concurrent circadian disruption, with measurements taken at the same circadian phase, decreased the participants' resting metabolic rate and increased plasma glucose concentrations after a meal, an effect resulting from inadequate pancreatic insulin secretion. These parameters normalized during the 9 days of recovery sleep and stable circadian re-entrainment. Thus, in humans, prolonged sleep restriction with concurrent circadian disruption alters metabolism and could increase the risk of obesity and diabetes.