02 Dec , 15:04
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Irregular sleep and short night rest can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems even in young people with normal weight.
As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to the journal Nutrients, scientists from Florence conducted a large-scale study involving 70 adults with normal body mass index. For a week, participants' sleep was continuously monitored using Fitbit bracelets. The results were alarming: even in people considered clinically healthy, irregular sleep and the habit of sleeping less than seven hours were associated with increased body fat, high cholesterol levels, and other markers of cardiovascular risk.
Although study participants slept an average of 7.4 hours per night, they differed significantly in sleep schedule stability. People with the least regular sleep patterns showed a higher percentage of fat mass, elevated total cholesterol, lower levels of "good" HDL and folates. Those who slept less than seven hours were found to have higher BMI and homocysteine levels — an amino acid that is considered a reliable marker of increased cardiovascular disease risk.
The researchers noted that after accounting for age, gender, physical activity, smoking, and caloric intake, the relationship between sleep quality and health indicators weakened. There were almost no significant differences in overall diet and meal timing between the groups, although the "undersleeping" group had a greater contribution of animal protein and sodium.
The authors emphasize: the study does not prove a causal relationship, but the results confirm the importance of not only duration but also sleep regularity as a potentially modifiable factor in cardiometabolic health even in young and outwardly healthy people.
