Skip to main content
Log in

Changes in the circadian rhythm of serum iron induced by a 5-day sleep deprivation

  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The effect of 5 days of sleep deprivation on the circadian rhythm of serum iron was studied in a group of six healthy male volunteers. The results were compared with a control group of five individuals, whose normal sleep cycle was preserved, but whose daily regimen was otherwise identical with the sleep deprivation group. Their biorhythm was processed mathematically using cosinor analysis. Sleep deprivation markedly reduced the mean level of iron, diminished the absolute and relative amplitude of oscillations, disturbed the shape of the daily course of serum iron and gradually decreased the computative acrophase, i.e., shortened the period of rhythm. Forty-eight hours of recovery resulted only in a partial normalization of all the observed changes. The potential mechanisms of the observed changes are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bothwell TH, Finch CA (1962) Iron metabolism. Churchill, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldthusen U, Larsen V, Larsen NA (1953) Serum iron and operative stress. Acta Med Scand 147: 311–323

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feldthusen U, Larsen NA (1954) Serum iron after coronary occlusion and traumatic injuries. Acta Med Scand 150: 53–62

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson IIJM, Kelly AM, Wang I (1969) Serum iron values following myocardial infarction. Scott Med J 14: 171–175

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halberg F (1969) Chronobiology. Annu Rev Physiol 31: 675–725

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton LD, Gubler CJ, Ashenbrucker H, Cartwright GE, Wintrobe MM (1951) Studies on the relationship of adrenal cortex to the experimental production of hypoferremia in rats. Endocrinology 48: 44–55

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton ID, Gubler CJ, Cartwright GE, Wintrobe MM (1950) Diurnal variation in the plasma iron level of man. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med NY 75: 65–68

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hemmeler G (1944) Nouvelles recherches sur le métabolisme du fer; oscillations du fer sérique dans la journée. Helv Med Acta 11: 201–207

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hemmeler G (1951) Métabolisme du fer. Physiologie, pathologie, traitement. Masson, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • HØyer K (1944) Physiologic variations in the iron content of human blood serum. I. The variations from week to week, from day to day and throughout twenty-four hours. II. Further studies of the intra diem variations. Acta Med Scand 119: 562–585

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn E, Brodan V, Válek J (1967) Changes in the white blood cell count due to deprivation of sleep (in Czech). čas Lék čes 106: 513–514

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn E (1969) Some metabolic effects of sleep deprivation. Doctoral thesis (in Czech). Institute of Human Nutrition, Prague

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurell CB (1952) The diurnal variation of the serum iron concentration. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 5: 118–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore CV, Minnich V, Welch J (1939) Studies in iron transportation and metabolism. III. The normal fluctuation and “easily splitoff” blood iron in individual subjects. J Clin Invest 18: 543–552

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson JCS, Marrack D, Wiggins HS (1952) Hypoferraemia in the human subject: The importance of diurnal hypoferraemia. Clin Sci 11: 417–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Pisano JJ, Crout JR, Abraham D (1962) Determination of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid in urine. Clin Chim Acta 7: 285–291

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Porter CC, Silber RH (1950) A quantitative colour reaction for cortisone and related 17,21-dihydroxy-20-21-ketosteroids. J Biol Chem 185: 201–207

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Udenfriend S, Titus E, Weissbach H (1955) The identification of 5-hydroxy-3-indolacetic acid in normal urine and a method for its determination. J Biol Chem 216: 499–505

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Veselý KT (1949) The level of serum iron in liver diseases (in Czech). čas Lék čes 88: 505–510

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldenström J (1946) The incidence of “iron deficiency” (sideropenia) in some rural and urban popoulations. Acta Med Scand [Suppl] 170: 252–279

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kuhn, E., Brodan, V. Changes in the circadian rhythm of serum iron induced by a 5-day sleep deprivation. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 49, 215–222 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02334070

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02334070

Key words

Navigation