Insomnia´s Impact on DNA Stability, Cardio-metabolic Health and Lifestyle Behaviors: A Case-control Study
Insomnia is a highly prevalent sleep disorder worldwide, with an increasing incidence in athletes, older adults, university students, and individuals with metabolic syndrome. This disorder has been associated with metabolic dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, and genetic instability. Recent evidence suggests that insomnia negatively impacts cardiorespiratory fitness, insulin sensitivity, and overall health through mechanisms involving neuroendocrine dysregulation, oxidative stress, and alterations in energy metabolism. However, the specific biological and environmental factors that contribute to its prevalence and health consequences remain poorly understood, particularly across different populations. Understanding these associations is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies to mitigate the long-term impact of insomnia. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the impact of insomnia on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, metabolic flexibility, and DNA integrity, across populations with high prevalence of insomnia, including athletes, older adults, university students, and individuals with metabolic syndrome. This study will also investigate which biological and lifestyle behaviors contribute to insomnia and its health consequences. By doing so, this work will provide critical insights into the physiological and molecular mechanisms that link insomnia with metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction, contributing to the development of targeted interventions for at-risk populations
∙ Each population group will meet the following inclusion criteria:
• Healthy Individuals (18-35 years old, men and women)
‣ Waist circumference: \<90 cm (men), \<80 cm (women)
⁃ Fasting glucose: 70-110 mg/dL
⁃ Blood pressure: \<120/80 mmHg
⁃ Triglycerides: \<150 mg/dL
⁃ HDL-C: \>40 mg/dL (men), \>50 mg/dL (women)
⁃ Physical activity level: 600-1500 MET-min/week
• Athletes (18-35 years old, men and women)
• \*Engaged in structured sports training with a physical activity level \>1500 MET-min/week
• Older Adults (65-75 years old, men and women)
• \*Free of cognitive or mental health disorders. No specific cardiometabolic or body composition criteria due to the study's exploratory nature.
• University Students (18-35 years old, men and women)
• \*No specific cardiometabolic or body composition criteria due to the study's exploratory nature.
• Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome (18-35 years old, men and women)
‣ Waist circumference: \>90 cm (men), \>80 cm (women)
⁃ Fasting glucose: \>110 mg/dL
⁃ Blood pressure: \>130/80 mmHg
⁃ Triglycerides: \>150 mg/dL
⁃ HDL-C: \<40 mg/dL (men), \<50 mg/dL (women)
⁃ Physical activity level: \<600 MET-min/week