Sleep Restriction for Glucose Metabolism in Sleep Deprivation

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital

Must not be taking: Sleep medications, Hormonal birth control

Disqualifiers: Neurological, Psychiatric, Sleep disorders, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

32 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this study is to learn whether insufficient sleep affects glucose metabolism differently in healthy men and women.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, you will need to stop taking any current prescription, herbal, or over-the-counter medications, including hormonal birth control, to participate in this trial.

Is sleep restriction generally safe for humans?

Research shows that sleep restriction can affect glucose metabolism, but when circadian disruption is minimized, it does not have adverse effects on glucose tolerance in healthy adults. However, prolonged sleep restriction with circadian disruption can impair glucose regulation and metabolism, potentially increasing the risk of conditions like diabetes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does sleep restriction treatment differ from other treatments for glucose metabolism issues?

Sleep restriction treatment is unique because it focuses on reducing sleep duration while maintaining slow-wave sleep, which is thought to help regulate glucose levels without increasing them during sleep. Unlike other treatments that might involve medication or lifestyle changes, this approach specifically targets sleep patterns to influence glucose metabolism. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Sleep restriction for glucose metabolism in sleep deprivation?

Research shows that while sleep restriction can lead to reduced insulin sensitivity, it does not necessarily increase nighttime glucose levels if slow-wave sleep is maintained. However, sleep restriction is generally associated with a higher risk of diabetes and obesity due to its impact on glucose regulation and appetite control. ^{6 7 9 10 11}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy adults who sleep and wake at regular times, don't smoke, and women with regular menstrual cycles. Participants must be able to stay in the lab for 10 days across two visits. It's not open to shift workers, those with recent eye trauma or surgery, neurological issues, drug/alcohol dependency, or anyone who has traveled across time zones recently.

Inclusion Criteria

Healthy adults with conventional sleep-wake timing

Completion of medical, psychological, and sleep screening tests

Non-smokers

Exclusion Criteria

Worked night or rotating shift work within past year

I have hearing loss.

Drug or alcohol dependency

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Control Condition

Participants undergo the control condition with no sleep restriction

4 days

Daily monitoring

Sleep Restriction

Participants undergo sleep restriction to 4 hours/night

3 nights

Daily monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Sleep restriction

Trial Overview The study investigates how lack of sleep affects sugar processing in the body differently between men and women. Participants will undergo a glucose tolerance test after having their sleep restricted while staying in a laboratory setting.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Sleep restriction Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants undergo sleep restriction to 4 hours/night

Group II: Control condition Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants undergo the control condition (no sleep restriction)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,694

Recruited

14,790,000+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Chronic partial sleep loss is linked to an increased risk of obesity and diabetes, as it negatively affects glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity, leading to a higher likelihood of developing diabetes.

Sleep deprivation disrupts appetite regulation by decreasing leptin (which signals fullness) and increasing ghrelin (which promotes hunger), potentially causing individuals to misinterpret their energy needs and leading to overeating.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Associations between sleep loss and increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Knutson, KL., Van Cauter, E.[2022]

Prolonged sleep restriction combined with circadian disruption, as experienced by shift workers, negatively impacts glucose regulation and metabolism, leading to increased plasma glucose levels after meals.

After a recovery period of 9 days with adequate sleep and circadian re-entrainment, metabolic parameters returned to normal, suggesting that proper sleep and circadian alignment are crucial for maintaining healthy metabolism.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse metabolic consequences in humans of prolonged sleep restriction combined with circadian disruption. Buxton, OM., Cain, SW., O'Connor, SP., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Week of Sleep Restriction Does Not Affect Nighttime Glucose Concentration in Healthy Adult Males When Slow-Wave Sleep Is Maintained. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Associations between sleep loss and increased risk of obesity and diabetes. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep influences on obesity, insulin resistance, and risk of type 2 diabetes. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of sleep manipulation on markers of insulin sensitivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of sleep restriction on glucose control and insulin secretion during diet-induced weight loss. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse metabolic consequences in humans of prolonged sleep restriction combined with circadian disruption. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chronic Insufficient Sleep in Women Impairs Insulin Sensitivity Independent of Adiposity Changes: Results of a Randomized Trial. [2023]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chronic Sleep Restriction While Minimizing Circadian Disruption Does Not Adversely Affect Glucose Tolerance. [2021]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep restriction acutely impairs glucose tolerance in rats. [2021]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-Term Moderate Sleep Restriction Decreases Insulin Sensitivity in Young Healthy Adults. [2019]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Shorter sleep duration is associated with decreased insulin sensitivity in healthy white men. [2022]