The Effects of Night Shift Work on Health Across the Menstrual Cycle (MENSLEEP)

Uppsala University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Metabolism; Menstrual Cycle; Brain Health; Sleep Deprivation; Immune System; Microbiota

Treatments: Other: Investigate sleep deprivation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06683248

2021-04191

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study aims to investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on women's health across different phases of the menstrual cycle.

Full description

Modern society demands around-the-clock services, with an estimated 20% of workers involved in night shifts. Shift work disrupts the circadian rhythm and has been linked to increased risks of obesity, metabolic syndrome, glucose dysregulation, and immune system issues. Sleep deprivation, especially during wakeful nights, is associated with elevated levels of central nervous system biomarkers like Tau and Amyloid-β proteins, which are implicated in brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

However, the effects of sleep deprivation on women, particularly in relation to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, remain largely unexplored. The menstrual cycle, which occurs in cis-women of childbearing age, involves significant fluctuations in estrogen, a hormone known for its neuroprotective properties. Estrogen impacts memory, executive function, and may play a role in protecting against neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Previous studies have largely focused on men or women using hormonal contraceptives, leaving a gap in understanding how natural hormonal cycles impact the response to sleep deprivation.

This study addresses this gap by focusing on healthy young women with regular menstrual cycles who do not use hormonal contraceptives. Participants will undergo an adaptation night followed by a sleep condition and a wake condition experiment. The goal is to better understand how hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle influence the body's response to sleep deprivation and stress, particularly in areas such as metabolism, brain function, and immune, system, and microbiota.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy

Exclusion criteria

• Use of hormonal contraceptives
• Chronic disease
• Regular use of nicotine
• Use of medication
• Consumes excessive amounts of alcohol or coffee

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 1 patient group

Sleep deprivation

Experimental group

Description:

All participants will undergo an 8-hour sleep opportunity, immediately followed by a night of total sleep deprivation.

Treatment:

Other: Investigate sleep deprivation