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The Association Between Sleep Duration, Insulin Sensitivity, and β-Cell Function: The EGIR-RISC Study
Femke Rutters1, Herve Besson1, Mark Walker1
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (F.R., J.M.D.), Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands; EMGO+ Institute for Care Research (F.R., J.M.D.), Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcome Research (H.B.), Utrecht, The Netherlands; Institute of Cellular Medicine (M.W.), Medical School Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom; Institute of Neuroscience (A.M.), National Research Council, Padova, Italy; Institute for Metabolic Research (T.K.), Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Clinical Sciences (P.M.N.), Lund University and University Hospital Malmo, Lund, Sweden; and Inserm U1081CESP (B.B.), Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Renal and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Villejuif, France.
Short sleep duration is linked to impaired glucose metabolism. This study found sleep duration impacts insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function differently in men and women.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic Health
- Sleep Science
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Over 3 dozen studies link self-reported short sleep to disturbed glucose metabolism.
- A study assessing insulin sensitivity via hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp was missing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cross-sectional association between sleep duration and insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function.
- Utilized the European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR-RISC) cohort.
Main Methods:
- Included 788 healthy participants from the EGIR-RISC study.
- Sleep duration measured by accelerometer; insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function assessed via hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and oral glucose tolerance tests.
- Analyzed associations using multiple linear regression, stratified by sex.
Main Results:
- In men, an inverted U-shaped association was observed between sleep duration and insulin sensitivity (M/I).
- In women, a U-shaped association was found between sleep duration and beta-cell function.
- Results indicate sex-specific relationships between sleep duration and glucose metabolism markers.
Conclusions:
- Sleep duration is associated with insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function in a sex-specific manner.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering sex when examining sleep's impact on metabolic health.
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