Those who sleep poorly could be at risk of developing fatty liver

According to recent research presented in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism of the Endocrine Society, individuals who lead sedentary lifestyles and engage in unhealthy sleeping habits may acquire fatty liver disease.

Around one-fourth of adults are affected with fatty liver disease, which is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. Metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity feed this kind of liver damage. Fatigued liver disease may develop into end-stage liver disease, placing a significant financial and health burden on society.

According to Yan Liu, Ph.D., of the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition, and Health and Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, “those with poor nocturnal sleep and extensive daytime naps had the highest risk for developing fatty liver disease.” According to our research, a moderate improvement in sleep quality was associated with a 29% lower incidence of fatty liver disease.

Late bedtime, snoring, and daytime naps lasting longer than 30 minutes were shown to be substantially related with an increased risk of fatty liver disease by the researchers after analyzing self-reported sleep patterns from 5,011 Chinese people with fatty liver disease. There was a 29% decrease in the risk of fatty liver disease as a result of a moderate improvement in sleep quality.

Sedentary lifestyles and central adiposity were associated with more pronounced negative consequences of inadequate sleep than were other factors.

In particular for people who lead unhealthy lifestyles, “this study provides evidence that even a moderate increase in sleep quality is sufficient to minimize the risk for fatty liver disease,” said Liu.

“Our study advocates for greater research in this area and methods to enhance sleep quality because a sizable fraction of people who experience poor sleep quality are both underdiagnosed and undertreated.”