Study Reveals Poor Sleep Habits Increase The Risk Of Fatty Liver Disease

Sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy sleep behaviors is a host to numerous health hazards and we all know it. According to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, people with sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy sleep behaviors could develop the fatty liver disease.

Fatty liver disease is one of the leading chronic liver disease worldwide. It affects about a quarter of the adult population each year. This type of liver disease is primarily fueled by metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Fatty liver disease may progress to end-stage liver disease, which in turn poses a major health and economic burden to society as a whole.

“People with poor nighttime sleep and prolonged daytime napping are at the highest risk for developing fatty liver disease. Our study found a moderate improvement in sleep quality was related to a 29% reduction in the risk for fatty liver disease,” says Yan Liu, PhD, of the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health and Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. 

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The researchers used the self-reported sleep behaviors from 5,011 Chinese adults with fatty liver disease for the analysis. They found that late bedtime, snoring, and daytime napping for over 30 minutes were significantly associated with an increased risk of fatty liver disease. A moderate improvement in sleep quality led to a 29% reduction in fatty liver disease risk. People with a sedentary lifestyle and central obesity experienced more prominent adverse effects from poor sleep quality than the rest.

“Our study helps in provideing the evidence that even a moderate improvement in sleep quality is sufficient to reduce the risk for fatty liver disease, especially in those with unhealthy lifestyles. Given that large proportions of subjects suffering from poor sleep quality are underdiagnosed and undertreated. In addition, the study calls for more research into this field and strategies that will help in improving sleep quality,” Liu concludes.