Sleep and Metabolic Control: Waking to a Problem?

Abstract

SUMMARY1. The aim of the present review is to outline: (i) the association between sleep and metabolism; (ii) how sleep duration influences the development of disease; and (iii) how sex differences, ageing and obesity may potentially influence the relationship between sleep, metabolic control and subsequent disease.2. Sleep is associated with a number of endocrine changes, including a change in insulin action in healthy young individuals. Sleep duration shows a prospective U-shaped relationship with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.3. Chronic sleep restriction is becoming more common. Experimental sleep restriction impedes daytime glucose control and increases appetite.4. The sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone influence sleep duration and quality and may account for sex differences in the prevalence of sleep-related disorders.5. Ageing is associated with a decreased sleep duration, decreased muscle mass and impaired insulin action.6. Obesity impairs insulin action and is associated with the incidence and severity of obstructive sleep apnoea.7. Sleep plays an integral role in metabolic control. Consequently, insufficient sleep may represent a modifiable risk factor for the development of Type 2 diabetes. The challenge ahead is to identify how sex differences, ageing and obesity could potentially influence the relationship between sleep and metabolism.

Morningness–Eveningness and Risk Taking

“…The concept of social jet lag suggests that evening types have to work against their natural clock. Soreca, Fagiolini, Frank, Goodpaster, and Kupfer (2009) argued that the main effect of social jet lag on evening types is that external demands are inconsistent with evening types' natural circadian rhythms, which in turn impairs their glucose metabolism Downloaded by [Cambridge University Library] at 01:19 18 August 2015 (Trenell, Marshall, & Rogers, 2007). Based on these findings, it is evident that social jet lag has the least impact on morning types because morning types work consistently with their natural clock (i.e., they work at their preferred time).…”

Self-reported symptoms of sleep disturbance and inflammation, coagulation, insulin resistance and psychosocial distress: Evidence for gender disparity

“…One recently published study, however, did suggests that gender is a characteristic that could modify the relation of poor sleep to inflammatory biomarkers, but due to small number of men and women in the sample, the investigators indicated that they were not able to test this association (Hong, et al, 2005). In light of the evidence from epidemiological studies for gender-specific association in sleep and healthy outcomes, and the fact that individual differences in sleep quality and quantity have been associated with putative mechanisms of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, the current observational study examined whether gender significantly moderates the relation of symptoms of disturbed sleep to markers of psychosocial distress and pathophysiological mechanisms in a large sample of men and women (Trenell, et al, 2007). Guided by previous observations, selection of biological and psychosocial markers was based on prior evidence indicating that elevations in levels of inflammatory (C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6) (Pradhan, et al, 2001;Ridker & Morrow, 2003), coagulation (fibrinogen) (Fibrinogen Studies, 2007;Temelkova-Kurktschiev, et al, 2002) and metabolic (fasting insulin, glucose and insulin resistance) (Arad, et al, 2001;Yanase, et al, 2004) biomarkers, as well as indicators of psychosocial distress (hostility, anger, depression and social support) (Krantz & McCeney, 2002;Rozanski, et al, 1999;Rozanski, et al, 2005), are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.…”

The reciprocal interaction between sleep and type 2 diabetes mellitus: facts and perspectives

“…Until recently, it was believed that sleep was important primarily for restoring brain functions. However, there is increasing evidence that sleep also modulates the metabolic, endocrine and cardiovascular systems (9).…”