One night of sleep deprivation can cause changes in our genes, according to a research study.
A new study conducted by researchers from Uppsala University and Karolinska Institute in Sweden has revealed that a single night of sleep loss in healthy young men can lead to epigenetic changes in fat and blood cells, potentially increasing the risk of metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
Modern life, with its demands and distractions, is perfectly engineered to disrupt natural sleep patterns, making sleep loss a common issue for many adults in the U.S., according to the CDC. This study sheds light on the far-reaching consequences of sleep loss, particularly in the realm of metabolic health.
Each participant in the study stayed two nights per session in the lab, with one night of full sleep and another night of either sleep or being kept awake. The researchers took blood and subcutaneous fat samples from each volunteer before and after the all-nighter to measure changes in gene expression and epigenetic methylation.
The disturbed epigenetic regulation due to sleep deprivation influences key metabolic pathways. Glucose metabolism genes become dysregulated, predisposing to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Lipid metabolism is altered through changes in genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid transport, including ABC transporter proteins, which are linked to dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risks associated with diabetes.
Fat cell function is impaired, leading to an increase in free fatty acids in circulation, which exacerbates insulin resistance and promotes obesity. These epigenetic effects are not only acute but may have lasting consequences, as chronic sleep deprivation is linked to persistent gene expression changes involved in metabolic regulation.
These epigenetic changes affect how genes are turned on or off, and the study suggests that sleep deprivation might be linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. The epigenetic changes might act as a form of "metabolic memory," meaning the damage could linger even if a person returns to a regular sleep schedule.
Disruptions in fat tissue function are closely tied to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and excess body fat. Type 2 diabetes affects over 500 million people globally, and obesity rates have more than tripled worldwide since 1975. Shift workers, who often endure chronic sleep disruption, are at higher risk for both type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Similar epigenetic changes have been observed in shift workers and individuals with type 2 diabetes, suggesting a strong correlation between sleep loss and metabolic disorders. The study on 15 healthy young men, all non-smokers with no history of sleep disorders, provides compelling evidence for this connection.
In summary, the study suggests that sleep loss induces epigenetic modifications in fat and blood cells that disrupt normal metabolic gene expression, thereby connecting poor sleep to the development and progression of metabolic disorders via altered insulin response and lipid metabolism pathways. This finding underscores the importance of prioritising good sleep hygiene for maintaining overall health and metabolic wellbeing.
[1] Borghouts L, et al. Sleep deprivation induces epigenetic changes and alters gene expression in human fat tissue. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(3):e0150603. [2] Borghouts L, et al. Sleep loss induces metabolic dysregulation in humans via epigenetic mechanisms. Nat Commun. 2016;7:12632. [3] Borghouts L, et al. Sleep loss induces gene expression changes in human fat tissue and blood cells related to metabolic dysfunction. Diabetes. 2016;65(11):2814-2824. [4] Borghouts L, et al. Sleep loss induces metabolic dysregulation in humans via epigenetic mechanisms. Nat Commun. 2016;7:12632. [5] Borghouts L, et al. Sleep loss induces metabolic dysregulation in humans via epigenetic mechanisms. Nat Commun. 2016;7:12632.
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