Elevated ghrelin predicts food intake during experimental sleep restriction.

Josiane L Broussard, Jennifer M Kilkus, Fanny Delebecque, Varghese Abraham, Andrew Day, Harry R Whitmore, Esra Tasali

Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) 2016;24(1):132-8

PMID: 26467988

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Plain Language Summary

Restricted sleep has been linked to obesity but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. This study aimed to assess whether restricted sleep (4.5hrs for 4 consecutive nights) alters the appetite-regulating hormones ghrelin, leptin and pancreatic polypeptide in the following 24hrs in 19 healthy, lean men (BMI 19-24.9). This randomised crossover study assessed whether those hormonal changes predicted the food intake during ad libitum feeding. The study found that Ghrelin levels were increased after sleep restriction but did not alter leptin or pancreatic polypeptide profiles. Sleep restriction was associated with an increase in calorie consumption from snacks, primarily from carbohydrates. They concluded that restricted sleep significantly increases ghrelin levels. Elevated ghrelin is associated with an increased calorie consumption which may lead to the development of obesity.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Sleep curtailment has been linked to obesity, but underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study assessed whether sleep restriction alters 24-h profiles of appetite-regulating hormones ghrelin, leptin, and pancreatic polypeptide during a standardized diet and whether these hormonal alterations predict food intake during ad libitum feeding.

METHODS

Nineteen healthy, lean men were studied under normal sleep and sleep restriction in a randomized crossover design. Blood samples were collected for 24 h during standardized meals. Subsequently, participants had an ad libitum feeding opportunity (buffet meals and snacks) and caloric intake was measured.

RESULTS

Ghrelin levels were increased after sleep restriction as compared with normal sleep (P < 0.01). Overall, sleep restriction did not alter leptin or pancreatic polypeptide profiles. Sleep restriction was associated with an increase in total calories from snacks by 328 ± 140 kcal (P = 0.03), primarily from carbohydrates (P = 0.02). The increase in evening ghrelin during sleep restriction was correlated with higher consumption of calories from sweets (r = 0.48, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep restriction as compared with normal sleep significantly increases ghrelin levels. The increase in ghrelin is associated with higher consumption of calories. Elevated ghrelin may be a mechanism by which sleep loss leads to increased food intake and the development of obesity.

Address: Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA.; Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.; Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

DOI: 10.1002/oby.21321