Association between habitual sleep duration/quality and appetite markers in individuals with obesity

Physiol Behav. 2021 Apr 1:232:113345. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113345. Epub 2021 Jan 29.

Abstract

Study objectives: To assess if habitual sleep duration/quality was associated with appetite in individuals with obesity, and if the association was modulated by sex.

Methods: Sleep duration/quality was measured with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score in 95 healthy adults with obesity (BMI: 36.6 ± 4.2 kg/m2). Subjective feelings of appetite were assessed using visual analogue scales, and plasma concentrations of active ghrelin, total peptide YY, active glucagon-like peptide 1, cholecystokinin (CCK) and insulin were measured in fasting and every 30 min up to 2.5 h after a meal.

Results: No significant associations were found between sleep duration, or overall quality, and appetite in all participants. However, a worse sleep efficiency was associated with lower postprandial CCK, a shorter habitual sleep was associated with lower postprandial desire to eat and a lower daytime dysfunction was associated with higher prospective food consumption in fasting (P<0.05, for all). In males, a shorter habitual sleep duration and a worse subjective sleep quality were associated with increased basal and postprandial active ghrelin (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Also, a shorter habitual sleep was associated with lower basal and postprandial insulin (P<0.05 for both) and a worse overall sleep quality with lower postprandial insulin (P<0.05). In females, a worse overall sleep quality was associated with lower postprandial active ghrelin (P<0.05), and short habitual sleep with higher postprandial insulin (P<0.05).

Conclusion: A worse habitual sleep efficiency is associated with blunted postprandial CCK secretion in individuals with obesity. The association between habitual sleep duration/quality and insulin and active ghrelin seems to be modulated by sex, but more studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Active GLP-1; Active ghrelin; CCK; Desire to eat; Hunger; Total PYY.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Appetite*
  • Female
  • Ghrelin*
  • Humans
  • Insulin
  • Male
  • Obesity
  • Peptide YY
  • Postprandial Period
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sleep

Substances

  • Ghrelin
  • Insulin
  • Peptide YY