Mounting evidence suggest that sleep factors play a vital role in the development of metabolic disorders. Recent research published in the ‘Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism’ reveals that sleep factors in relation to metabolic-dysfunction is associated with fatty liver disease in middle-aged and elderly.

In a cross-sectional study of 5,011 participants with self-reported sleep behaviors and radiologically diagnosed metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), a comprehensive healthy sleep score was generated to evaluate the associations between sleep behaviors and MAFLD risk using multivariate logistic regression adjusting for demographics, lifestyles, medication and metabolic comorbidities. Mediation analysis was utilized to assess the extent to which obesity explain the effect of sleep quality on MAFLD risk.

The results show that late bedtime, snoring and daytime napping for over 30 minutes is significantly associated with increased risks of MAFLD. Participants with disturbance in nighttime sleep and prolonged daytime napping showed highest risk for MAFLD (OR=2.38, 95%CI:1.73-3.27). Each additional increase of healthy sleep score was associated with a 16% reduction in MAFLD risk.

According to the researchers, sleep behaviors, both cumulatively and individually, are associated with MAFLD risk.