Nocturnal levels of ghrelin and leptin and sleep in chronic insomnia.

TitleNocturnal levels of ghrelin and leptin and sleep in chronic insomnia.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsMotivala SJ, A Tomiyama J, Ziegler M, Khandrika S, Irwin MR
JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology
Volume34
Issue4
Pagination540-5
Date Published2009 May
ISSN0306-4530
KeywordsAdult, Case-Control Studies, Chronic Disease, Circadian Rhythm, Ghrelin, Humans, Leptin, Male, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Sleep, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Abstract

Experimental sleep deprivation in healthy humans affects levels of ghrelin and leptin, two primary hormones involved in energy balance that regulate appetite and body weight. No study to date has examined levels of these hormones in patients with chronic insomnia. In this study, men diagnosed with primary insomnia using DSM-IV criteria (n=14) and age and body weight comparable healthy control men (n=24) underwent polysomnography. Circulating levels of ghrelin and leptin were measured at 2300h, 0200h and 0600h. As compared to controls, insomnia patients showed less total sleep time, stage 2 and REM sleep and decreased sleep efficiency and more stage 1 sleep than controls (p's<.05). Ghrelin levels across the night were significantly lower in insomnia patients (p<.0001). Leptin was not significantly different between the groups. In conclusion, decreased nocturnal ghrelin in insomnia is consistent with findings for nighttime levels in sleep deprivation studies in healthy sleepers. These findings suggest that insomnia patients have a dysregulation in energy balance that may play a role in explaining prospective weight gain in this population.

DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.10.016
Alternate JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology
PubMed ID19059729
PubMed Central IDPMC2725023
Grant ListAA13239 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States
AG18367 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
AR/AG41867 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
AT00255 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
K23 AG027860 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR000827 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR000827-230697 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR000865 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR000865-358141 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR00827 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028748-049004 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AA013239 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AA013239-06 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG018367 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG018367-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026364-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA119159 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA119159-04 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL079955 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL079955-04 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R21 AT000255 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
R21 AT000255-02 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH018399 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH018399-15 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH019925 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH019925-12 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32-MH18399 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States