Impact of sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function

Background Chronic sleep debt is becoming increasingly common and affects m illions of people in more-developed countries. Sleep debt is currently beli eved to have no adverse effect on health. We investigated the effect of sle ep debt on metabolic and endocrine functions. Methods We assessed carbohydrate metabolism, thyrotropic function, activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, and sympathovagal balance in 11 young men after time in bed had been restricted to 4 h per night for 6 nig hts. We compared the sleep-debt condition with measurements taken at the en d of a sleep-recovery period when participants were allowed 12 h in bed per night for 6 nights. Findings Glucose tolerance was lower in the sleep-debt condition than in th e fully rested condition (p<0.02), as were thyrotropin concentrations (p<0. 01). Evening cortisol concentrations were raised (p=0.0001) and activity of the sympathetic nervous system was increased in the sleep-debt condition ( p<0.02). Interpretation Sleep debt has a harmful impact on carbohydrate metabolism a nd endocrine function. The effects are similar to those seen in normal agei ng and, therefore, sleep debt may increase the severity of age-related chro nic disorders.