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Elevated ghrelin predicts food intake during experimental sleep restriction.
Josiane L Broussard1, Jennifer M Kilkus2, Fanny Delebecque2
1Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|October 16, 2015
Summary
Sleep restriction increases ghrelin, a hunger hormone, leading to higher calorie intake, particularly from sweets. This hormonal shift may explain how sleep loss contributes to obesity.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Sleep curtailment is associated with obesity.
- The precise mechanisms linking sleep loss to weight gain require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if sleep restriction alters 24-hour appetite-regulating hormone profiles (ghrelin, leptin, pancreatic polypeptide) under a standardized diet.
- To assess if these hormonal changes predict subsequent food intake during ad libitum feeding.
Main Methods:
- Nineteen healthy, lean men participated in a randomized crossover study comparing normal sleep and sleep restriction.
- Blood samples were collected over 24 hours during standardized meals.
- Caloric intake was measured after an ad libitum feeding opportunity.
Main Results:
- Sleep restriction significantly elevated ghrelin levels compared to normal sleep (P < 0.01).
- No significant alterations were observed in leptin or pancreatic polypeptide profiles.
- Total caloric intake increased by 328 kcal during sleep restriction, mainly from carbohydrates (P = 0.02).
- Increased evening ghrelin correlated with higher sweet consumption (r = 0.48, P = 0.04).
Conclusions:
- Sleep restriction elevates ghrelin levels, a key hunger hormone.
- The rise in ghrelin is linked to increased calorie consumption, especially from sweets.
- Elevated ghrelin may represent a crucial mechanism connecting sleep loss to increased food intake and obesity development.
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