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Volumetric bone mineral density and bone size in sleep-deprived individuals

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Abstract

Introduction

Chronic sleep deprivation, which is associated with several age-related pathologies and altered endocrine function, may adversely affect bone. Our a priori hypothesis was that bone mineral density was lower in sleep-deprived (<6.5 h/night) vs. sleep-adequate (>6.5-10 h/night) individuals.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of sleep and bone data on 1,146 individuals (652 women) was performed. Measurements were obtained at the distal radius by pQCT, and the spine and hip by DXA. Bone differences between sleep-deprived and sleep-adequate groups were compared after stratifying by sex and controlling for covariates.

Results

Overall, 19% of the population was sleep deprived. Sleep-deprived women had lower cortical volumetric BMD (1,208±4 vs. 1,219±2 mg/cm3, P=0.03) than sleep-adequate women. Sleep-deprived men had lower pSSI, an estimate of torsional bending strength, than sleep-adequate men (358±10 vs. 382±5 mm3, P=0.04), due to a slightly smaller periosteal circumference (43.9±0.4 vs. 44.8±0.2 mm, P=0.07) and cortical area (103±2 vs. 106±1±mm2, P=0.06).

Conclusion

Sleep deprivation is associated with some, but not all, bone outcomes. These findings may have important public health significance given the increasing prevalence of sleep deprivation.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the willingness and cooperation of the study participants who gave their time to participate in this study. We also would like to thank the students and staff of the EA Martin Program who spent unlimited time helping on this project. This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (R01-AR47852) and by the Ethel Austin Martin Endowment at South Dakota State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EA Martin Program in Human Nutrition, EAM Bldg South Dakota State University, 1100 Rotunda Lane North, P.O. Box 2204, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA

    B. L. Specker, T. Binkley & T. Beare

  2. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA

    M. Vukovich

Authors
  1. B. L. Specker
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  2. T. Binkley
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  3. M. Vukovich
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  4. T. Beare
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Correspondence to B. L. Specker.

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Specker, B.L., Binkley, T., Vukovich, M. et al. Volumetric bone mineral density and bone size in sleep-deprived individuals. Osteoporos Int 18, 93–99 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-006-0207-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-006-0207-x

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