Alterations in sleep architecture in response to experimental sleep curtailment are associated with signs of positive energy balance.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized crossover trial
PubMed 22972835 · doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00222.2012
What was done
Fourteen males and 13 females with body mass index between 22 and 26 kg/m² participated in a randomized crossover sleep curtailment trial. Participants completed two conditions of 5 nights each: short sleep (4 h/night; 0100–0500 h) and habitual sleep (9 h/night; 2200–0700 h). Nightly sleep was recorded using polysomnography. Measured outcomes included resting metabolic rate (RMR), feelings of appetite-satiety, and ad libitum food intake.
What was found
Short sleep reduced stage 2 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep duration (P < 0.001), decreased percentages of stage 2 and REM sleep, and increased slow wave sleep (SWS) percentage (P < 0.05). Linear mixed models showed a positive association between stage 2 sleep duration and RMR (P = 0.051). Inverse associations were found between REM sleep duration and hunger (P = 0.031), and between stage 2 sleep duration and appetite for sweet (P = 0.015) and salty (P = 0.046) foods. Stage 2 sleep percentage was inversely related to total energy consumed (P = 0.024). Fat intake was inversely related to stage 2 (P = 0.005), SWS (P = 0.008), and REM sleep (P = 0.048) percentages. Carbohydrate intake was inversely related to SWS (P = 0.040) and REM sleep (P = 0.050) percentages. Absolute caloric amounts and effect sizes were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study provides mechanistic evidence linking specific alterations in sleep architecture—particularly loss of stage 2 and REM sleep—to increased hunger, food cravings, and higher macronutrient consumption during sleep restriction.
Limits
The sample size was small (n = 27) and limited to individuals within a narrow BMI range (22–26 kg/m²). The protocol only tested acute sleep curtailment (5 nights), which may not reflect chronic real-world sleep restriction. Absolute values for energy intake, RMR, and effect sizes were not provided in the abstract.
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