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Sleep deprivation linked to NAFLD, serum aminotransferase levels

Shorter sleep durations were correlated with abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase levels and development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among U.S. adults, according to a recently published study.

“Sleep deprivation has been hypothesized to disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which may contribute to NAFLD,” the researchers wrote. “However, it is also possible that sleep duration has an independent association with serum ALT in subjects with or without NAFLD or other chronic liver disease.”

The researchers reviewed data from 17,245 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) from 2005 to 2012. In the NHANES database, sleep duration categories included 5 hours of sleep or less; 6, 7 or 8 hours of sleep; and 9 hours of sleep or more. “Sleep quality” was only available from 2005 to 2006 and 2007 to 2008.

According to the NHANES data, 15.9% of adults in the U.S. slept for 5 or less hours a night, 23.8% for 6 hours, 27.1% for 7 hours, 26.3% for 8 hours and 7% for 9 hours or more.

Researchers in the current study observed a significant association between shorter sleep duration and higher levels of ALT and aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase and fasting insulin, especially among adults with 5 hours of sleep or less compared with those who received 9 hours or more (P < .05).

In multivariate analysis, sleep duration of 5 hours or less had a higher significant association with abnormal ALT levels (OR = 1.35; 95% CI, 1.11-1.65) and NAFLD (OR = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.08-1.95) compared with 6 hours of sleep or more. Those with 5 hours of sleep or less were overall 35% more likely to have abnormal ALT and 45% more likely to have NAFLD than those who received 9 hours of sleep or more (P = .001).

“Optimal sleep duration (7 hours) is associated with lower likelihood of abnormal ALT and NAFLD, independent of metabolic risk factors. Improving sleep health may provide a novel opportunity for intervention in patients with abnormal ALT and/or NAFLD,” the researchers concluded. – by Talitha Bennett

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.