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Sleep Disturbances & Metabolic Syndrome
approved for metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy, is designed to bind to and inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is a protein that plays a critical role in tumor angiogenesis.
Sleep Disturbances & Metabolic Syndrome
Defining Metabolic Syndrome arly detection and more intensive management of the metabolic syndrome to reduce the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes is now possible, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in a new global consensus statement. The statement includes a new, clinically accessible definition of the metabolic syndrome, representing the views of experts in the fields of diabetes, cardiology, lipidology, public health, epidemiology, genetics, metabolism and nutrition from six continents. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of the most dangerous heart attack risk factors:
E
• diabetes or prediabetes • abdominal obesity • changes in cholesterol and high blood pressure While up to 80 percent of the almost 200 million adults worldwide with diabetes will die of cardiovascular disease, people with metabolic syndrome are also at increased risk, being twice as likely to die from and three times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to people without the syndrome. This puts metabolic syndrome and diabetes way ahead of HIV/AIDS in morbidity and mortality terms, yet the problem is not as well recognized. People with metabolic syndrome have a fivefold greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes (if not already present). It’s the exact nature of the cluster that appears to bring additional risk over and above that which would be expected from each of the compo-
208
AWHONN Lifelines
new mouse study suggests that a brain system that controls the sleep/wake cycle might also play a role in regulating appetite and metabolism. Mice with a mutation in a gene called “Clock,” which helps drive circadian rhythm, ate significantly more and gained more weight. The finding could help explain why disrupted sleep patterns—particularly when combined with a high-fat diet—are associated with excessive weight gain and the onset of metabolic syndrome in some people, according to investigators supported by the NIH. At least 40 million Americans have chronic sleep problems, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems. As many as 47 million Americans have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions shown to increase a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke. The National Cholesterol Education Program defines metabolic syndrome as having at least three of the following risk factors: high blood pressure; high glucose (sugar) levels, which can indicate risk for diabetes; high triglyceride levels; low levels of good cholesterol and a large waist. Scientists have found that circadian rhythms (which control the sleep/wake cycle and other biological processes), hunger and satiety are all regulated by centers within a brain structure called the hypothalamus. And previous studies in humans have suggested that disrupted sleep patterns may contribute to the development of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In this latest work, researchers found that mutant mice were more active during times when rodents usually sleep. They also had less fluctuation in blood levels of leptin, a hormone that transmits a satiety signal to the brain. The researchers also found that Clock mutant mice had reduced levels of the hormone ghrelin within the hypothalamus, indicting that ghrelin may participate in the neuronal relay linking sleep, wakefulness and appetite. Together, these alterations in neural and peripheral hormones suggest that a number of previously undetected brain circuits may exist that are common to sleep and eating. The mice with a mutation in the Clock gene fed a regular diet gained about as much weight as normal mice that were fed a high-fat diet. The mice with a mutation in the Clock gene showed even greater weight gain and changes in metabolism when fed a high-fat diet. They developed a wide range of conditions associated with obesity, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, such as high levels of blood cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose and insulin resistance.
A
Volume 9
Issue 3
Sleep Disturbances & Metabolic Syndrome
Defining Metabolic Syndrome arly detection and more intensive management of the metabolic syndrome to reduce the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes is now possible, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in a new global consensus statement. The statement includes a new, clinically accessible definition of the metabolic syndrome, representing the views of experts in the fields of diabetes, cardiology, lipidology, public health, epidemiology, genetics, metabolism and nutrition from six continents. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of the most dangerous heart attack risk factors:
E
• diabetes or prediabetes • abdominal obesity • changes in cholesterol and high blood pressure While up to 80 percent of the almost 200 million adults worldwide with diabetes will die of cardiovascular disease, people with metabolic syndrome are also at increased risk, being twice as likely to die from and three times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to people without the syndrome. This puts metabolic syndrome and diabetes way ahead of HIV/AIDS in morbidity and mortality terms, yet the problem is not as well recognized. People with metabolic syndrome have a fivefold greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes (if not already present). It’s the exact nature of the cluster that appears to bring additional risk over and above that which would be expected from each of the compo-
208
AWHONN Lifelines
new mouse study suggests that a brain system that controls the sleep/wake cycle might also play a role in regulating appetite and metabolism. Mice with a mutation in a gene called “Clock,” which helps drive circadian rhythm, ate significantly more and gained more weight. The finding could help explain why disrupted sleep patterns—particularly when combined with a high-fat diet—are associated with excessive weight gain and the onset of metabolic syndrome in some people, according to investigators supported by the NIH. At least 40 million Americans have chronic sleep problems, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems. As many as 47 million Americans have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions shown to increase a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke. The National Cholesterol Education Program defines metabolic syndrome as having at least three of the following risk factors: high blood pressure; high glucose (sugar) levels, which can indicate risk for diabetes; high triglyceride levels; low levels of good cholesterol and a large waist. Scientists have found that circadian rhythms (which control the sleep/wake cycle and other biological processes), hunger and satiety are all regulated by centers within a brain structure called the hypothalamus. And previous studies in humans have suggested that disrupted sleep patterns may contribute to the development of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In this latest work, researchers found that mutant mice were more active during times when rodents usually sleep. They also had less fluctuation in blood levels of leptin, a hormone that transmits a satiety signal to the brain. The researchers also found that Clock mutant mice had reduced levels of the hormone ghrelin within the hypothalamus, indicting that ghrelin may participate in the neuronal relay linking sleep, wakefulness and appetite. Together, these alterations in neural and peripheral hormones suggest that a number of previously undetected brain circuits may exist that are common to sleep and eating. The mice with a mutation in the Clock gene fed a regular diet gained about as much weight as normal mice that were fed a high-fat diet. The mice with a mutation in the Clock gene showed even greater weight gain and changes in metabolism when fed a high-fat diet. They developed a wide range of conditions associated with obesity, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, such as high levels of blood cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose and insulin resistance.
A
Volume 9
Issue 3