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Too little sleep in child­hood may have neg­at­ive ef­fects on cho­les­terol levels

Date:
May 29, 2018
Source:
University of Helsinki
Summary:
Adequate sleep duration and sleep quality may support healthy lipid profile among children and youth, according to new research. In addition, earlier circadian preference in childhood may contribute positively to the future health of the child.
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Sleep has important functions for both health and cognitive performance. In her doctoral dissertation, MA Liisa Kuula-Paavola from University of Helsinki investigated typical, non-restricted sleep over a developmental span from middle childhood to early adulthood.

Longitudinal analyses revealed that shorter sleep duration and irregular sleep in middle childhood were associated with a more detrimental lipid profile (higher levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, lower levels of HDL cholesterol) in early adolescence -- especially among girls. These associations survived controlling for body mass index and physical activity.

The dissertation's studies regarding cognitive functioning also indicate that sleep duration is closely related to executive functioning, i.e. the ability to control one's behavior. During early adolescence, especially boys' shorter sleep duration was associated with poorer performance in tests evaluating executive functioning.

"We found similar results in young adults, but also found that later sleep timing and irregular sleep were associated with weaker trait-like executive functioning, such as self-control and behavior regulation," Kuula-Paavola says.

She also analyzed the sleep patterns of different circadian preference phenotypes longitudinally, and found that those adolescents with a preference for morningness differed from others in sleep timing already at age 8. This suggests long-term stability in sleep patterns.

Based on these findings, objectively measured sleep and its timing have longitudinal pathways which connect to future health, and may act as risk factors or as protective features for various health related outcomes.

"It is also likely that sleep, self-control, and health behavior are intertwined during development," Kuula-Paavola says.

The research was conducted in the University of Helsinki's Sleep and Mind Research Group and Developmental Psychology Research Group.


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Materials provided by University of Helsinki. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

University of Helsinki. "Too little sleep in child­hood may have neg­at­ive ef­fects on cho­les­terol levels." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 May 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180529132145.htm>.
University of Helsinki. (2018, May 29). Too little sleep in child­hood may have neg­at­ive ef­fects on cho­les­terol levels. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180529132145.htm
University of Helsinki. "Too little sleep in child­hood may have neg­at­ive ef­fects on cho­les­terol levels." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180529132145.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

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