Pilot study of sleep and meal timing effects, independent of sleep duration and food intake, on insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals

Abstract

This pilot study tested the independent and interactive effects of sleep and meal times, under identical sleep duration and feeding conditions, on insulin sensitivity (Si) in overweight adults. Participants underwent a 4-phase randomized crossover inpatient study differing in sleep times: normal (Ns: 0000-0800 hours) or late (Ls: 0330-1130 hours); and in meal times: normal (Nm: 1, 5, 11, and 12.5 hours after awakening) or late (Lm: 4.5, 8.5, 14.5, and 16 hours after awakening). An insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test, at scheduled breakfast time, and a meal tolerance test, at scheduled lunch time, were performed to assess Si after 3 days in each condition. Six participants were enrolled (4 men, 2 women; mean age 25.1±[SD] 3.9 years, body mass index 29.2±2.7 kg/m²); only 1 failed to complete her last study phase. There were no effects of sleep and meal times or sleep × meal time interaction on Si (all P>.35), acute insulin response to intravenous glucose (all P>.20), and disposition index (all P>.60) after adjusting for sex and body mass index. Meal tolerance test glucose and insulin areas under the curve were lower during Nm (glucose P=.11; insulin P=.0088). There were a sleep × meal interaction and an effect of meal times on overnight glucose (P=.0040 and .012, respectively) and insulin (P=.0075 and .067, respectively). Sleep timing, without concomitant sleep restriction, does not adversely affect Si and glucose tolerance, but meal times may be relevant for health. Our results should be confirmed in a larger sample.

Keywords: Cortisol; Glucose tolerance; Insulin sensitivity; Meal timing; Melatonin; Sleep timing.