Research Letter

Effect of 1 Week of Sleep Restriction on Testosterone Levels in Young Healthy Men

JAMA. 2011 Jun 1;305(21):2173-4.

Rachel Leproult, PhD; Eve Van Cauter, PhD

Source: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

To the Editor: Chronic sleep curtailment is endemic in modern societies. The majority of the daily testosterone release in men occurs during sleep. 1 Sleep fragmentation and obstructive sleep apnea are associated with reduced testosterone levels. 2 In older men, morning testosterone levels are partly predicted by total sleep time. 3 Testosterone is critical in male sexual behavior and reproduction, but also has important beneficial effects on muscle mass and strength, adiposity, bone density, and vigor and well-being. 4 We investigated the effect of 1 week of sleep restriction on testosterone levels in young healthy men.

METHODS
The protocol was approved by the University of Chicago institutional review board. Volunteers responded to flyers posted around campus. Exclusion criteria included a history of endocrine or psychiatric disorders, irregular bedtimes, and sleep complaints. Written informed consent was obtained from 28 persons. Ten men passed all screening tests and completed the study, which was [click here to continue reading] …