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Exposure to Recurrent Sleep Restriction in the Setting of High Caloric Intake and Physical Inactivity Results in Increased Insulin Resistance and Reduced Glucose Tolerance

Department of Medicine (A.V.N., L.K., P.D.P.), and General Clinical Research Center (J.I.), University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Plamen D. Penev, M.D., Ph.D., Section of Adult and Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC-1027, Chicago, Illinois 60637. E-mail: ppenev{at}medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.

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/m² 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 · 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.