Poor sleep and altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical and sympatho-adrenal-medullary system activity in children.
BACKGROUND
Neuroendocrine alterations, with well-known links with health, may offer insight into why poor sleep is associated with poor health. Yet, studies testing associations between sleep and neuroendocrine activity in children are scarce.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether actigraphy-based sleep pattern is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and sympatho-adrenal-medullary system activity in children.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study in a birth cohort in Helsinki, Finland.


METHODS
We studied 282 8-yr-old children.


METHODS
We measured diurnal salivary cortisol and salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (a sympatho-adrenal-medullary system marker) responses to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C).


RESULTS
Children with short (<or=7.7 h) vs. average sleep duration (7.8-9.3 h) displayed higher cortisol awakening response and nadir (P < 0.042). Those with low (<or=77.4%) vs. average-high sleep efficiency (>77.4%) displayed higher diurnal cortisol levels across the entire day (P < 0.03), higher cortisol levels after the TSST-C stressor (P < 0.04), and higher overall alpha-amylase levels across the entire TSST-C protocol (P < 0.05). The effects were not confounded by factors that may alter sleep or hormonal patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor sleep may signal altered neuroendocrine functioning in children. The findings may offer insight into the pathways linking poor sleep with poor health.
Räikkönen
Katri
K
Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9 (Siltavuorenpenger 20 D), 00014 Helsinki, Finland. katri.raikkonen@helsinki.fi
Matthews
Karen A
KA
Pesonen
Anu-Katriina
AK
Pyhälä
Riikka
R
Paavonen
E Juulia
EJ
Feldt
Kimmo
K
Jones
Alexander
A
Phillips
David I W
DI
Seckl
Jonathan R
JR
Heinonen
Kati
K
Lahti
Jari
J
Komsi
Niina
N
Järvenpää
Anna-Liisa
AL
Eriksson
Johan G
JG
Strandberg
Timo E
TE
Kajantie
Eero
E
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014851:Wakefulness
D006854:Hydrocortisone