Table 1:
Effect of Sleep Restriction on 24 hour Cortisol
| Study | Subjects (n) | Age (yr) Mean ± SD |
BMI (kg/m2) Mean ± SD |
Sleep Restriction (days × hr); sleep opportunity | Control Sleep (days × hr); sleep opportunity | Study Design | Cortisol measurement frequency and duration | AM Cortisol | PM Cortisol | 24 Hr Cortisol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liu 2020 [44] | 17 M “young men” |
24.1 ± 2.9 | Median 25.0 (IQR 22.9 – 27.5) |
1 × 0 hr | 1 × 8 hr 2200 – 0600 |
Randomized order | Q10 min ×24 hr 1800 – 1800 |
No change 0600 – 0900 |
No change 1500 –1800 |
No change |
| 16 M “older men” |
63.9 ± 4.0 | Median 29.5 (IQR 26.4 – 31.7) |
1 × 0 hr | 1 × 8 hr 2200 – 0600 |
Randomized order | Q10 min ×24 hr 1800 – 1800 |
No change 0600 – 0900 |
Increased 1500 – 1800 |
No change | |
| Broussard 2015 [45] | 19 M | 23.5 ± 3.1 | 23.4 ± 1.7 | 4 × 4.5 hr 0100 – 0530 |
4 × 8.5 hr 2300 – 0730 |
Randomized order | Q15-30 min ×24 hr 2130 – 2130 |
NR | Increased 1900 – 2130, 2300 – 0100 |
NR |
| Nedeltcheva 2009 [46] | 6 M 5 F “Sedentary” |
39 ± 5 | 26.5 ± 1.5 | 14 × 5.5 hr ~0030 – ~0600& |
14 × 8.5 hr ~2315 – ~0740& |
Randomized order | Q15-30 min ×24 hr 2000 – 2000 |
No change AM peak cortisol | Increased 2000 – 2200 |
No change |
| Leproult 2011 [47] | 10 M | 24.3 ± 4.3 | 23.5 ± 2.4 | 8 × 5 hr 0030 – 0530 |
3 × 10 hr 2200 – 0800 |
Fixed order | Q15-30 min ×24 hr 1400 – 1400 |
NR | NR | No change |
| Vgontzas 2004 [48] | 12 M 13 F |
M:25.6 ± 4.1 F: 24.8 ± 3.4 |
M: 24.6 ± 1.5 F: 23.1 ± 2.7 |
8 × 6 hr 2230 – 0430 |
4 × 8 hr 2230 – 0630 |
Fixed order | Q30 min ×24 hr 0800 – 0730 |
Decreased AM peak cortisol | No change | No change |
| Wright 2015 [16] | 14 M 3 F |
31.7 ± 6.1 | NR | 1 × 0 hr | 6 × 8 hr “Habitual” sleep time |
Fixed order | Q30 min ×24 hr 2400 – 2400# |
Increased ~0900 – 1100 |
Increased ~1300, ~1600 |
Increased |
| Pejovic2013 [49] | 16 M 14 F |
24.7 ± 3.5 | 23.6 ± 2.4 | 6 × 6 hr 2230 – 0430 |
4 × 8 hr 2230 – 0630 |
Fixed order | Q1 hr ×24 hr 0800 – 0800 |
Decreased AM peak cortisol | No change | No change |
| Ackermann 2013 [50] | 12 M | 23 ± 5 | NR | 1 × 0 hr | 1 × 8 hr 2300 – 0700 |
Fixed order | Q1 hr ×24 hr 1200 – 1200# |
NR | NR | No change |
| Benedict 2011 [51] | 14 M | 22.6 ± 3.0 | 23.9 ± 1.9 | 1 × 0 hr | 1 × 8 hr 2300 – 0630-0700 |
Randomized balanced order | 1800, 2100, then Q90 min 2400 – 0900, Q60 min 1000 – 1300, then 1500 & 1800 | Decreased 0730 Increased 0900 |
Increased 1200, 1500 |
Increased |
| Axelsson 2013 [52] | 9 M | Range 23–28 | Range 21–26 | 5 × 4 hr 0300 – 0700 |
2 × 8 hr 2300 – 0700 |
Fixed order | Q1 hr 2300 – 0800, then Q3 hr 0800 – 2300 | NR | Increased 2000 |
No change |
| Simpson 2016 [53] | 8 M 8 F |
24.9 ± 4.4 | 24.8 ± 3.2 | 5 × 4 hr 0300 – 0700 |
5 × 8 hr 2300 – 0700 |
Randomized balanced order | Q2 hr ×24 hr 2330 – 2130 |
Increased 0730 |
No change | NR |
| Dattilo 2019 [54] | 10 M Undergoing strenuous exercise |
24.5 ± 2.9 | 22.7 ± 2.3 | 2 × 0 hr | 2 × 8 hr 2300 – 0700 |
Randomized order | Q2 hr ×24 hr 1900 – 1900 |
NR | NR | Increased |
BMI - body mass index; F – females; Hr – hours; IQR - interquartile range; M – males; Min – minutes; NR - not reported; Q – every; SD - standard deviation; SR - sleep restriction; Wk – week; Yr - year
&
Sleep opportunities are listed as approximate times because the lights-off and wakeup times were moved proportionally to avoid shift in circadian phase throughout each 14-day study period
#
Blood sampled for 2 consecutive 24-hour periods for total of 48 hours