Elevated ghrelin predicts food intake during experimental sleep restriction.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized crossover trial
PubMed 26467988 · doi:10.1002/oby.21321
What was done
Nineteen healthy, lean men participated in a randomized crossover study comparing normal sleep to experimental sleep restriction. Blood samples were drawn over 24 hours during standardized meal intake to measure profiles of ghrelin, leptin, and pancreatic polypeptide. Caloric and macronutrient intake was subsequently measured during an ad libitum feeding period featuring buffet meals and snacks.
What was found
Sleep restriction significantly increased ghrelin levels compared with normal sleep (P < 0.01), without altering overall profiles of leptin or pancreatic polypeptide. Sleep restriction increased caloric intake from snacks by 328 ± 140 kcal (P = 0.03), driven predominantly by carbohydrates (P = 0.02). The increase in evening ghrelin during sleep restriction correlated with higher caloric intake from sweets (r = 0.48, P = 0.04).
Why it matters
This study identifies elevated 24-hour ghrelin as a mechanistic driver connecting acute sleep loss to increased snacking and sweet consumption.
Limits
The study sample was small (n = 19) and limited exclusively to lean men, precluding generalization to women or individuals with obesity. The abstract does not specify the exact duration/degree of sleep restriction or whether acute laboratory ad libitum eating reflects long-term dietary habits.
Cited by
- supports Sleep-deprived individuals consume an additional 300 to 400 calories in snacks from an ad-libitum buffet even after eating a full 2,000-calorie meal.