What do sleep deprivation and alcohol abuse have in common? They can both lead to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and possible cirrhosis of the liver, according to the American Heart Association.
But experts are now turning their attention to sleep deprivation as a trigger of the disease, even for those who don’t consume alcohol.
Insufficient sleep, affecting 1 in 4 Americans, has been called a “silent epidemic” and is frequently cited as a risk factor for the health of the individual and the safety of society. It is compromising the physical and mental health of 78% of adults.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver of people who consume little or no alcohol. It is one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease, associated with obesity, insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels, and increased levels of lipids in the body. While alcohol abuse is a well-known cause of liver disease, it leads to alcoholic liver disease (ALD), not NAFLD.
ALD and NAFLD are distinct conditions; the former is directly related to the consumption of alcohol, while the latter is associated with metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity.
Studies suggest that poor sleep quality and short sleep duration can contribute to the development of NAFLD, possibly due to their effects on metabolism and insulin resistance.
“Heavy alcohol consumption can also lead to fatty liver, but NAFL refers to fatty liver that occurs in the setting of metabolic syndrome and weight gain in the absence of heavy alcohol consumption — hence the name ‘non-alcoholic,’” said Ibrahim Hanouneh, a gastroenterologist with MNGI Digestive Health in Minnesota.
“In some studies, fatty liver has affected 25% to 33% of the general population — almost one out of four individuals — but the vast majority of individuals have no symptoms at all, particularly in the early stages,” said Hanouneh.
Lack of high-quality sleep has been linked to weight gain, an increase in hunger and adverse blood sugar control in multiple studies, according to Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic and co-author of “Regenerative Health.”
“Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for abnormal amounts of fat in the liver,” said Kirkpatrick.
The risk is particularly high for postmenopausal women, she noted. One study found that chronic short sleep duration led to a 20% increase in insulin levels among that group, compared to 15% overall.
“The stress on the body caused by a lack of sleep can cause adverse metabolic changes that ultimately may lead to NAFLD,” Kirkpatrick said.
Even if you don’t consume alcohol, you may be at risk of liver disease, simply because you’re not getting enough sleep, but “NAFLD is a preventable disease,” Hanouneh said. Just try to follow good sleep hygiene.
