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The effects of partial sleep restriction and altered sleep timing on olfactory performance

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 71, pages 1471–1472 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

Olfaction can increase the drive to eat and may partially explain the consistent increases in energy intake (EI) following sleep restriction. We investigated the effects of 50% sleep restriction with altered sleep timing on olfactory performance. We also evaluated whether changes (Δ) in olfactory performance were associated with Δ24 h EI. Twelve men and six women (age: 23±4 years; BMI: 23±3 kg/m2) completed three randomized cross-over conditions: habitual sleep duration, 50% sleep restriction with advanced wake-time, and 50% sleep restriction with delayed bedtime. Sleep was measured in-laboratory (polysomnography). Olfactory performance (‘sniffin sticks’) and 24 h EI (food menu) were evaluated the next day. A trend for a significant condition*sex interaction was noted for threshold-discrimination-identification (TDI) scores (P=0.09); TDI scores were lowest in women and highest in men, following sleep restriction with advanced wake-time. Δolfactory performance were not associated with Δ24 h EI. The impact of sleep restriction on olfactory performance may differ between sexes. Changes in olfactory performance were not associated with changes in 24 h EI. Studies investigating prolonged effects of sleep loss on the relationship between olfactory performance with EI are needed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants for their involvement in this study. The authors also thank Isabelle Chaumont, Émilie Langlois, Riley Maitland and Alexandre Riopel for their involvement in data collection. J McNeil was a recipient of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship during the time of data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral and Metabolic Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Ontario, Canada

    J McNeil, L J Hintze & É Doucet

  2. Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, CancerControl Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, T2S 3C3, Alberta, Canada

    J McNeil

  3. Département de Psychoéducation et de Psychologie, Laboratoire du Sommeil, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, J8X 3X7, Quebec, Canada

    G Forest & J-F Brunet

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  1. J McNeil
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  2. G Forest
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  3. L J Hintze
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  4. J-F Brunet
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  5. É Doucet
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Correspondence to É Doucet.

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McNeil, J., Forest, G., Hintze, L. et al. The effects of partial sleep restriction and altered sleep timing on olfactory performance. Eur J Clin Nutr 71, 1471–1472 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2017.109

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2017.109

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