Obstructive Sleep Apnea Part 1 - Metabolism during sleep

Sleep and metabolism are closely intertwined, and healthy sleep habits support proper metabolic function and maintain overall health. So what happens to our metabolism during sleep and how can breath analysis help with sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

In this OSA series, we start with Part 1 on how metabolism is affected during sleep. In Part 2 we give a background into OSA, the current diagnostic tools, and the potential of breath analysis.

How is our metabolism influenced during a normal sleep cycle?

Sleep and metabolism are influenced by the circadian rhythm, with different metabolic processes occurring during different stages of sleep and different times of day.

The sleep cycle consists of two main stages: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. During the REM stage, the body's metabolism increases, and there is an increase in brain activity and oxygen consumption, linked to the consolidation of memories and the regulation of emotions. During the NREM stage, the body's metabolism slows down, including a decrease in heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature, and this is when the body conserves energy and repair tissues.

Chronic lack of sleep has been shown to disrupt the body's ability to regulate glucose and insulin levels, leading to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders. Maintaining good sleep hygiene is vital for healthy metabolism and overall health.

Breath Analysis demonstrates metabolic patterns across different sleep stages

Through exhaled breath analysis by SESI-HRMS, different stages of sleep have been shown to regulate more than 50% of all metabolite features detected in human breath. A recent study that measured approximately 2,000 metabolite features in exhaled breath every 10 s across a night of sleep, identified major pathways that were up- or downregulated during different sleep stages of wake, slow-wave sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep. In summary, it appears that not only circadian rhythm but also sleep-wake patterns dynamically regulate metabolic circuits impacting human health and performance.

👉 Check out this reference: Nowak N et al. Rapid and reversible control of human metabolism by individual sleep states. Cell Rep. 2021 Oct 26;37(4):109903.

The relationship between sleep and metabolism is complex, and further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms involved. DBI supports research exploring the relationship between metabolism and sleep as well as sleep disorders in the development of metabolic diseases. Breath analysis may have the potential to help with detection and monitoring of sleep disorders and ultimately improve quality of life.

See the following video about breath research: