title: Disturbed sleep is associated with increased C-reactive protein in young women.
abstract: Evidence links disturbed sleep with an exaggerated inflammatory response and increased risk of adverse health outcomes. An emerging risk factor for many adverse health outcomes is chronic, low-grade inflammation. An exaggerated inflammatory response could provide a biological link between disturbed sleep and adverse health outcomes. The relationship between sleep and chronic, low-grade inflammation has been sparsely examined in otherwise healthy, young women. We evaluated cross-sectional relationships between self-reported sleep and three inflammatory markers. Participants were community dwelling nonpregnant women (N=43, 28.2+/-5.2 years of age). Measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), sleep diaries, and serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha and C-reactive protein. Poor sleep quality and continuity were associated with higher CRP levels after controlling for covariates. No significant relationships were observed between PSQI scores and IL-6 or TNF-alpha; sleep duration was not related to any of the inflammatory markers. Poor sleep, in young adulthood, may contribute to the chronic, low-grade inflammation associated with an increased risk for future adverse health outcomes. Future work should longitudinally evaluate how these relationships may affect development of gender-specific diseases in apparently healthy young women.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Room E-1116, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. okunml@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Okun
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coussons-Read
authors.forename: Martica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein