New Delhi: A recent study by researchers at the University of Basel has revealed that disrupted sleep patterns may worsen metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition that affects nearly one in four people worldwide.
The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Network Physiology, emphasize how fragmented sleep could play a significant role in the disease’s progression.
The study monitored the sleep patterns of 35 MASLD patients and 16 healthy individuals using wrist-worn devices (actigraphy) over four weeks. It found that MASLD patients experienced more nighttime awakenings, longer periods of wakefulness after falling asleep, and reduced sleep efficiency compared to healthy individuals, despite spending a similar amount of time in bed.
“Patients with MASLD subjectively perceived shorter sleep duration and delayed sleep onset. However, actigraphy revealed that the real issue lies in sleep fragmentation and inefficiency rather than reduced sleep hours,” said Dr Sofia Schaeffer, lead author of the study.
The team also found that a single session of sleep hygiene education, which teaches habits to improve sleep, did not result in noticeable improvements in sleep patterns or metabolic health. This highlights the complexity of addressing sleep issues in MASLD patients.
“Our findings indicate fragmented nocturnal sleep in patients with MASLD, characterized by increased wakefulness and reduced sleep efficiency, perceived subjectively as shortened sleep duration and delayed onset,” explained the authors. “This may contribute to the pathogenesis of MASLD as hepatic manifestation of the multisystemic metabolic syndrome.”
The study points to the potential link between poor sleep and metabolic imbalances like glucose intolerance and inflammation, which are associated with liver disease. The researchers noted that further studies are needed to explore therapies aimed at improving sleep as part of MASLD treatment.
“Our data suggest a pathophysiological role for sleep fragmentation in developing MASLD,” the authors wrote. “However, the directionality of the translational relationship between disturbed sleep-wake patterns and MASLD remains unclear.”
This research provides fresh insights into how sleep affects liver health and could pave the way for new approaches to managing the condition.