Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
Published on: October 11, 2018
Sleep Disruption and Bone Health
1Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12801 E. 17th Ave., Mail Stop 8106, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. Christine.Swanson@CUAnschutz.edu.
Purpose Of Review:
Review recent literature investigating the relationship between bone health and sleep/circadian disruptions (e.g., abnormal sleep duration, night shift work).
Recent Findings:
Short and long sleep are associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Recent data from observational studies identified an increased risk of fracture in women with short sleep. Studies suggest that age, sex, weight change, and concurrent circadian misalignment may modify the effects of sleep restriction on bone metabolism. Interventional studies demonstrate alterations in bone metabolism and structure in response to circadian disruption that could underlie the increased fracture risk seen with night shift work. The effects of sleep and circadian disruption during adolescence may have lifelong skeletal consequences if they adversely impact bone modeling. Data suggest that short sleep and night shift work negatively impact bone metabolism and health. Rigorous studies of prevalent sleep and circadian disruptions are needed to determine mechanisms and develop prevention strategies to optimize lifelong skeletal health.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Bone Remodeling
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling
What is the Skeletal System?

