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Sleep restriction for 1 week reduces insulin sensitivity in healthy men
Inpatient randomised parallel study in 20 healthy men: one week with 5 h/night in bed versus baseline replete sleep reduced IVGTT-derived insulin sensitivity by 20±24% (P=0.001) and clamp-derived insulin sensitivity by 11±5.5% (P<0.04), with reduced disposition index; modafinil during restriction did not rescue these metabolic endpoints.
Design
- Setting: 12-day inpatient metabolic unit (20 healthy men; BMI 20–30)
- Sleep: ≥8 nights 10 h in bed (replete) → 7 nights 5 h in bed (restricted); controlled diet and activity
- Randomisation: modafinil 300 mg/day vs placebo during restriction (metabolic primary outcomes not rescued)
Headline metabolic results (abstract)
- IVGTT insulin sensitivity: −20 ± 24% after restriction (P = 0.001)
- Clamp insulin sensitivity: −11 ± 5.5% (P < 0.04)
- Disposition index and glucose tolerance also worsened with restriction
Evidence hygiene
- Young men only; 1 week exposure—complements single-night clamp changes (Donga 2010) but still not years-long epidemiology by itself.
Publication
Buxton OM, Pavlova M, Reid EW, et al. Diabetes. 2010 Sep;59(9):2126-2133. PMID 20585000.
Outcomes
- IVGTT-derived insulin sensitivity reduced by mean 20±24% after 7 nights of 5 h in bed vs sleep-replete condition (P=0.001; n=20 healthy men).
- Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp: insulin sensitivity reduced by mean 11±5.5% after sleep restriction vs replete sleep (P<0.04).