The effect of acute sleep deprivation on skeletal muscle protein synthesis and the hormonal environment

Inadequate sleep has profound, negative consequences on human tissues including skeletal muscle. Poor muscle health is associated with a series of chronic and metabolic conditions that are 15-30% more prevalent in individuals who chronically experience short and/or poor-quality sleep. Animal models suggest that inadequate sleep may directly impair muscle protein metabolism, which is critical to maintain muscle mass and function. This study aimed at providing the first proof-of-concept that total sleep deprivation decreases muscle protein synthesis in humans. To this end, thirteen young males and females experienced one night of total sleep deprivation or slept normally at home. Anabolic and catabolic hormonal profiles, muscle fractional synthesis rate and markers of muscle protein metabolism were assessed the following day. Cortisol release was higher, and there was a trend for testosterone and muscle fractional synthesis rate to be lower in the sleep-deprived than in the control condition. Markers of muscle protein degradation did not change. Exploratory analyses of the male and female cohorts revealed that the trend for sleep deprivation-induced decrease in fractional synthesis rate was significant and specific to the male cohort, and may be driven by testosterone. In conclusion, one night of total sleep deprivation disrupts the balance of anabolic and catabolic hormones and induces a trend towards a decrease in muscle protein synthesis. These results suggest a potentially direct relationship between inadequate sleep and poor muscle health in humans that may be sex-specific.