Effects of three weeks of mild sleep restriction implemented in the home environment on multiple metabolic and endocrine markers in healthy young men
Abstract
Objectives Evidence for a causal relationship between sleep-loss and metabolism is derived primarily from short-term sleep deprivation studies in the laboratory. The objective of this study was to investigate whether small changes in sleep duration over a three week period while participants are living in their normal environment lead to changes in insulin sensitivity and other metabolic parameters.Methods Nineteen healthy, young, normal-weight men were randomised to either sleep restriction (habitual bedtime minus 1.5h) or a control condition (habitual bedtime) for three weeks. Weekly assessments of insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp, anthropometry, vascular function, leptin and adiponectin were made. Sleep was assessed continuously using actigraphy and diaries.Results Assessment of sleep by actigraphy confirmed that the intervention reduced daily sleep duration by 01:19 ± 00:15 (SE; p<0.001). Sleep restriction led to changes in insulin sensitivity, body weight and plasma concentrations of leptin which varied during the three week period. There was no effect on plasma adiponectin or vascular function.Conclusions Even minor reductions in sleep duration lead to changes in insulin sensitivity, body weight and other metabolic parameters which vary during the exposure period. Larger and longer longitudinal studies of sleep restriction and sleep extension are warranted.
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Longer-term studies have not found an impact of sleep restriction on body weight.
“Longer-term studies, however, have not found an impact of sleep restriction on body weight.”
From Sleep Duration and Quality: Impact on Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2016) · cites this paper as [84]
Experimental sleep disruption causes insulin resistance and negatively impacts hunger, satiety, and body weight regulation.
“The directionality of this association is not clear at present, but as we discuss below, experimental sleep disruption causes insulin resistance and negatively impacts hunger, satiety, and body weight regulation.”
From The effects of sleep disruption on metabolism, hunger, and satiety, and the influence of psychosocial stress and exercise: A narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [29]
Experimental sleep restriction studies support the robust body of epidemiological evidence suggesting that short sleep durations promote insulin resistance.
“Together, these experimental sleep restriction studies support the robust body of epidemiological evidence suggesting that short sleep durations promote insulin resistance.”
From The effects of sleep disruption on metabolism, hunger, and satiety, and the influence of psychosocial stress and exercise: A narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [29]
Three weeks of sleep restriction decreased insulin sensitivity in young, healthy men assessed using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp.
“Robertson et al. reported that 3 weeks of sleep restriction decreased insulin sensitivity in young, healthy men assessed using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp.29”
From The effects of sleep disruption on metabolism, hunger, and satiety, and the influence of psychosocial stress and exercise: A narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [29]
A recent study of 19 healthy men sleep restricted by 1.5 hours each night for 3 weeks found that morning leptin levels after three weeks of sleep restriction were reduced (p=0.023) compared to baseline.
“In this study, 19 healthy men were sleep restricted by 1.5 hours each night for 3 weeks [53]. In the sleep-restricted group, morning leptin levels after three weeks of sleep restriction were reduced (p=0.023) compared to baseline.”
From Association between sleep deficiency and cardiometabolic disease: implications for health disparities (2016) · cites this paper as [53]
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References 46 · Cited by 100
- Authors
- Robertson, M. D., Russell-Jones, D., Umpleby, A. M., & Dijk, D.-J.
- Affiliations
- University of Surrey (GB)
- Royal Surrey County Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Robertson, M. Denise
- Venue
- Metabolism
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-02
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 204-211
- ISSN
- 0026-0495 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1988003558
- Cited by
- 100
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6
- FWCI
- 9.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Keywords
- sleep restriction, sleep duration, insulin sensitivity, leptin, adiponectin, body weight, vascular function, metabolic biomarkers, endocrine markers, healthy young men, home-based intervention
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Blood Pressure, Body Composition, Body Weight, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Sleep, Sleep Deprivation, Glucose Clamp Technique, Leptin, Adiponectin, Young Adult
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