Sleep Deprivation Triggers Heart Risk Biomarkers, Uppsala Study Finds

Even short-term sleep loss can activate biological pathways linked to cardiovascular disease, according to a new study led by Uppsala University and published in Biomarker Research. Researchers found that just three nights of restricted sleep significantly increased inflammatory proteins associated with heart conditions such as heart failure and coronary artery disease.

The study involved 16 healthy young men, whose diet and physical activity were strictly controlled in a sleep lab. After periods of normal sleep and sleep deprivation (around four hours per night), blood tests revealed a spike in inflammation-related proteins following sleep loss—despite participants being young and previously healthy.

Lead author emphasized the importance of quality sleep even in youth, noting that chronic sleep disruption is a growing public health issue, especially among shift workers.

Exercise did trigger beneficial protein responses regardless of sleep status, but the study stressed that exercise cannot replace the essential functions of sleep.

The findings may help shape future guidelines on how sleep, exercise, and lifestyle factors interact to prevent cardiovascular disease. Further research is planned across different populations.

12-05-2025