Volumetric bone mineral density and bone size in sleep-deprived individuals.
BACKGROUND
Chronic sleep deprivation, which is associated with several age-related pathologies and altered endocrine function, may adversely affect bone. Our a priori hypothesis was that bone mineral density was lower in sleep-deprived (<6.5 h/night) vs. sleep-adequate (>6.5-10 h/night) individuals.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of sleep and bone data on 1,146 individuals (652 women) was performed. Measurements were obtained at the distal radius by pQCT, and the spine and hip by DXA. Bone differences between sleep-deprived and sleep-adequate groups were compared after stratifying by sex and controlling for covariates.


RESULTS
Overall, 19% of the population was sleep deprived. Sleep-deprived women had lower cortical volumetric BMD (1,208+/-4 vs. 1,219+/-2 mg/cm(3), P=0.03) than sleep-adequate women. Sleep-deprived men had lower pSSI, an estimate of torsional bending strength, than sleep-adequate men (358+/-10 vs. 382+/-5 mm(3), P=0.04), due to a slightly smaller periosteal circumference (43.9+/-0.4 vs. 44.8+/-0.2 mm, P=0.07) and cortical area (103+/-2 vs. 106+/-1+/-mm(2), P=0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Sleep deprivation is associated with some, but not all, bone outcomes. These findings may have important public health significance given the increasing prevalence of sleep deprivation.
Specker
B L
BL
EA Martin Program in Human Nutrition, EAM Bldg South Dakota State University, 1100 Rotunda Lane North, P.O. Box 2204, Brookings, SD 57007, USA. Bonny.Specker@sdstate.edu
Binkley
T
T
Vukovich
M
M
Beare
T
T
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011884:Radius / Q000503:physiopathology; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical