A single night of partial sleep deprivation induces insulin resistance in multiple metabolic pathways in healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
Subsequent nights with partial sleep restriction result in impaired glucose tolerance, but the effects on insulin sensitivity have not been characterized.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single night of partial sleep restriction on parameters of insulin sensitivity.


METHODS
Nine healthy subjects (five men, four women) were studied once after a night of normal sleep duration (sleep allowed from 2300 to 0730 h), and once after a night of 4 h of sleep (sleep allowed from 0100 to 0500 h). Sleep characteristics were assessed by polysomnography. Insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies (from 1130 to 1430 h) with infusion of [6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose.


RESULTS
Sleep duration was shorter in the night with sleep restriction than in the unrestricted night (226 +/- 11 vs. 454 +/- 9 min; P< 0.0001). Sleep restriction did not affect basal levels of glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, insulin, or endogenous glucose production. Sleep restriction resulted in increased endogenous glucose production during the hyperinsulinemic clamp study compared to the unrestricted night (4.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 3.6 +/- 0.2 micromol x kg lean body mass(-1) x min(-1); P = 0.017), indicating hepatic insulin resistance. In addition, sleep restriction decreased the glucose disposal rate during the clamp (32.5 +/- 3.6 vs. 40.7 +/- 5.1 micromol x kg lean body mass(-1) x min(-1); P = 0009), reflecting decreased peripheral insulin sensitivity. Accordingly, sleep restriction decreased the rate of glucose infusion by approximately 25% (P = 0.001). Sleep restriction increased plasma nonesterified fatty acid levels during the clamp study (68 +/- 5 vs. 57 +/- 4 micromol/liter; P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Partial sleep deprivation during only a single night induces insulin resistance in multiple metabolic pathways in healthy subjects. This physiological observation may be of relevance for variations in glucoregulation in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Donga
Esther
E
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, C4-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. e.donga@lumc.nl
van Dijk
Marieke
M
van Dijk
J Gert
JG
Biermasz
Nienke R
NR
Lammers
Gert-Jan
GJ
van Kralingen
Klaas W
KW
Corssmit
Eleonara P M
EP
Romijn
Johannes A
JA
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D017286:Polysomnography; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified