What are metabolic disorders?
Metabolic disorders are alterations in metabolic processes that can cause harm to a subject. The most common disorders affect the glucose and lipid metabolism causing diabetes and dyslipidemia. Another common disorder is obesity that affects many distinct metabolic processes.
When was it first discovered that sleep loss adversely affects metabolic health?
The first studies that showed that sleep loss adverse affects metabolism were published in the late 90s.
How much evidence is there to support an association between poor quality sleep and metabolic disorders?
There is now quite strong evidence. While epidemiological studies show a clear association, experimental studies provide evidence for the cause-effect relationship.
It needs to be pointed out that experimental studies are usually only of short-term nature so it remains unclear whether long-term sleep loss exerts similar effects. However, epidemiological studies clearly point in this direction.
Do any of these studies show a direct causal link between poor quality sleep and metabolic disorders?
Yes, at least in the short-term. For instance, short sleep duration for one or more nights increases postprandial glucose levels and also diminishes fat loss during a low caloric diet.
What percentage of people are thought to not be getting enough sleep?
I do not think that there are reliable data to answer this question. I would think around 30%. However, the amount of required sleep may also vary from individual to individual. In most adults it should be about 7 to 8 hours.
How does the disruption of the body’s natural sleeping pattern, such as that of shift workers, affect metabolic health?
It leads to an impaired glucose tolerance, i.e. increased postprandial glucose levels, as well as insulin resistance. It is also associated with an increased risk of weight gain and the development of diabetes.
Do you think it will one day be possible to reverse adverse metabolic traits?
Not fully. Metabolic traits deteriorate with aging, but a healthy lifestyle including a sufficient amount of sleep can slow down this aging process.
What are your future research plans?
One focus of our work is to find out which part of nighttime sleep is of particular importance for metabolic health and glucose metabolism in particular. This might help to develop optimized sleep schedules even when the sleep time has to be curtailed.
Where can readers find more information?
The readers may read our comprehensive review article recently published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, Early Online Publication, 25 March 2014 doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(14)70012-9
www.eswiss-msc.ch
About Professor Bernd Schultes
From 1991 to 1997 Prof. Bernd Schultes studied human medicine at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany where he also received this doctoral thesis 1998.
In 2004 he received this Habilitation and Venia Legendi for Internal Medicine at the University of Luebeck, Germany and was nominated as an associated Professor at the same University in 2008.
From 1997 to 2005 he worked as an Intern, Resident and later Senior Physician at the Medical Clinic 1, University of Luebeck, Germany. Meanwhile he received the board approval in Internal Medicine as well as in Endocrinology & Diabetology.
From 2005 to 2012 he was the head of the Interdisciplinary Obesity Center, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Switzerland.
In 2012 he founded together with 3 surgeons the eSwiss Medical & Surgical Center in St. Gallen, i.e. a private medical institute, where he currently leads the section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology & Diabetology.
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