Cited by 614Sleep and related disordersSleep and Work-Related FatigueCircadian rhythm and melatonin

Effects of Sleep Fragmentation on Glucose Metabolism in Normal Subjects

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Stamatakis, Katherine A., Punjabi, Naresh M.·2010·Chest

Abstract

Background Sleep disorders are increasingly associated with insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Whether the metabolic toll imposed by sleep-related disorders is caused by poor-quality sleep or due to other confounding factors is not known. The objective of this study was to examine whether experimental sleep fragmentation across all sleep stages would alter glucose metabolism, adrenocortical function, and sympathovagal balance.Methods Sleep was experimentally fragmented across all stages in 11 healthy, normal volunteers for two nights using auditory and mechanical stimuli. Primary outcomes included insulin sensitivity (S(I)), glucose effectiveness (S(G)), and insulin secretion, as determined by the intravenous glucose tolerance test. Secondary outcomes included measures of sympathovagal balance and serum levels of inflammatory markers, adipokines, and cortisol.Results Following two nights of sleep fragmentation, S(I) decreased from 5.02 to 3.76 (mU/L)(-1)min(-1) (P < .0001). S(G), which is the ability of glucose to mobilize itself independent of an insulin response, also decreased from 2.73 x 10(-2) min(-1) to 2.16 x 10(-2) min(-1) (P < .01). Sleep fragmentation led to an increase in morning cortisol levels and a shift in sympathovagal balance toward an increase in sympathetic nervous system activity. Markers of systemic inflammation and serum adipokines were unchanged with sleep fragmentation.Conclusions Fragmentation of sleep across all stages is associated with a decrease in S(I) and S(G). Increases in sympathetic nervous system and adrenocortical activity likely mediate the adverse metabolic effects of poor sleep quality.

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Crossref · 10.1378/chest.09-0791

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  • Previous studies have shown that experimental reductions of sleep quality without change in sleep duration can result in decreases in SI that approximate the effect size of circadian misalignment observed.

    “Previous studies in healthy young adults have shown that experimental reductions of sleep quality without change in sleep duration, by nearly complete suppression of SWS (31) or by severe sleep fragmentation across all sleep stages (32), can result in decreases in SI that approximate the effect size of circadian misalignment observed in the current study.”

    From Circadian Misalignment Augments Markers of Insulin Resistance and Inflammation, Independently of Sleep Loss (2014) · cites this paper as [32]

    The Abstract reports a decrease in insulin sensitivity after two nights of fragmentation across all sleep stages, and the Discussion says sleep duration was preserved. But the Discussion calls the disruption moderate, not severe. The comparison with circadian misalignment is the citing authors’ own comparison, not a finding attributed to this source. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The FSIVGTT has been used to show adverse effects of sleep disturbances on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, and in one study FSIVGTT and the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp gave similar results.

    “This test has been used to show an adverse effect of sleep disturbances on human glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in multiple previous reports (12, 15,17, 23, 24). In 1 study that used both the FSIVGTT and the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp to assess changes in insulin sensitivity after experimental sleep restriction in healthy participants, both methods provided similar results (12).”
  • If sleep restriction or fragmentation lasts only one or two nights, or is broken by daytime naps, circulating inflammatory markers seem unchanged.

    “when sleep restriction or sleep fragmentation is limited to only 1 or 2 nights (Stamatakis and Punjabi, 2010; Schmid et al, 2011; Abedelmalek et al, 2013), or interrupted by daytime naps (Faraut et al, 2011) (Shearer et al, 2001), circulating levels of inflammatory markers do not appear to change (Irwin et al, 2015).”

    From Sleep health: Reciprocal regulation of sleep and innate immunity (2017) · cites this paper as Stamatakis and Punjabi, 2010

  • Glucose effectiveness was reduced by 21% in the sleep fragmentation study.

    “Glucose effectiveness was reduced by 21%.”

    From Sleep and metabolic function (2012) · cites this paper as [167]

  • Two studies demonstrated that poor sleep quality, independently of sleep duration, impairs glucose regulation in healthy young adults.

    “Two studies have demonstrated that poor sleep quality, independently of sleep duration, impairs glucose regulation in healthy young adults [167, 176].”

    From Sleep and metabolic function (2012) · cites this paper as [167]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Shoelson SE , Lee J , Goldfi ne AB . Infl ammation and insulin resistance . J Clin Invest . 2006 ; 116 ( 7 ): 1793 -1801 .

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Authors
Stamatakis, K. A., & Punjabi, N. M.
Affiliations
Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Punjabi, Naresh M.
Venue
Chest
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-01
Volume
137
Issue
1
Pages
95-101
ISSN
0012-3692 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2083503000
Cited by
614
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 54 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 36
FWCI
37.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • CHEST Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL086862, R01HL075078, HL075078, R01HL086862)
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01RR000056, 5 M01 RR00056)
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 fragmentation, glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness, insulin secretion, adrenocortical function, cortisol, sympathovagal balance, sympathetic activity, sleep quality, sleep disorders, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, inflammatory markers, adipokines
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Blood Glucose, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Glucose Tolerance Test, Heart Rate, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Male, Prognosis, Reference Values, Sleep Deprivation, Polysomnography, Young Adult

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