The effects of sleep deprivation on insulin, resistin and visfatin levels in healthy humans

Abstract

The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Insulin, Resistin and Visfatin Levels in Healthy Humans ABSTRACT Background: Sleep deprivation is known to affect circulating insulin and glucose levels which in turn modulate glucose metabolism. However, the mechanism of alterations in glucose homeostasis during sleep deprivation is not known. In this study, we investigated circulating resistin and visfatin levels in response to 40 hours of sleep loss in order to shed light on the above-mentioned mechanism. Methods: This study included 12 healthy young adult subjects (aged between 18-32 years). All participants underwent polysomnographic evaluation and oral glucose tolerance test and then fasting venous blood samples were collected in morning hours. Then, subjects remained awake for 40 hours under actigraphic monitorization. At the end of sleep deprivation, blood samples were collected again. Serum insulin, resistin and visfatin levels were measured in all blood samples. Insulin was determined by chemical immune assay method, whereas resistin and visfatin levels assayed by ELISA. Results: Compared to baseline, 40-hour total sleep deprivation resulted in a significant increase in serum insulin levels (10.75±7.75 vs 35.98±27.96 IU; p=0.002) and a significant decrease in resistin levels (21.94±7.65 vs 11.71±5.31 IU; p=0.002). Visfatin levels remained unchanged (6.29±3.31 vs 5.43±5.08 IU; p>0.05). Conclusion: These results suggested that short-term total sleep deprivation may lead to insulin resistance which was evidenced by a significant increase insulin levels independent of resistin. This may contribute to pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus under conditions of chronic sleep deprivation.