Good sleep is extremely important.
Fatty liver disease (MASLD) may significantly disrupt sleep, leading to fragmented rest and leaving patients struggling to regain slumber, according to new research. Patients with this condition often experience frequent awakenings, prolonged wakefulness during the night, and difficulty falling asleep. Despite efforts to improve their sleep through tips and sleep hygiene education, their rest remained poor, highlighting a deeper connection between the disease and sleep disturbances.
The condition, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), results from fat accumulation in the liver, often linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes. This can progress to inflammation, liver scarring, and failure. Currently affecting about 30% of adults, MASLD is projected to impact more than half the global adult population by 2040. Previous studies suggested a link between the disease and disturbed sleep, but they relied heavily on subjective data from sleep questionnaires. To gather more objective insights, researchers used wrist monitors to track participants’ sleep patterns.
The study involved 46 adults with fatty liver disease, eight patients with alcohol-related liver disease, and 16 healthy volunteers. Among the fatty liver patients, 80% had metabolic syndrome, a combination of obesity, prediabetes, and high triglycerides. While these individuals spent as much time in bed and got similar total sleep durations as the healthy group, they experienced 55% more nighttime awakenings and spent 113% more time lying awake. Additionally, they reported sleeping more during the day and showed a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances linked to stress, with 32% of MASLD patients citing stress-related sleep issues compared to just 6% of healthy participants.
The study, published in Frontiers in Network Physiology, highlighted that despite addressing sleep hygiene, there was no improvement in patients’ circadian rhythms. Dr. Christine Bernsmeier, a senior researcher, noted that a single session of sleep education was insufficient to make a lasting impact. Future research should explore more sustained interventions, such as regular counseling, light therapy, and lifestyle modifications, to address sleep disruptions in MASLD patients.
While researchers noted a connection between MASLD and poor sleep, they could not confirm whether the disease causes sleep problems or if disrupted sleep contributes to the condition. Genetic, environmental, and immune responses tied to obesity and metabolic syndrome likely play a role in the observed patterns. These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies to address both MASLD and the sleep issues associated with it.
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