Sleep in monozygotic twin pairs discordant for obesity.
Kronholm, E, Aunola S, Hyypp[umlaut]a Mt, Kaitsaari M, Koskenvuo M,
Mattlar C E, R[diaeresis]onnemaa T.
Research and Development, Social Insurance Institution, FIN-20720
Turku, Finland, Department of Public Health, University of Turku,
Department of Medicine, University of Turku
APStracts 2:0366A, 1995.
Nocturnal motor, breathing, and cardiac activity was recorded by using
the static charge sensitive bed (SCSB) and sleep habits were studied
by questionnaire in 24 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for
their body mass index (BMI); the mean intra-pair difference between
co-twins was 6.7 kg/m2. Intra-pair differences in sleep
characteristics between co-twins were related to intra-pair
differences in physiological and anthropometric characteristics. Two
questions were tested. First, do MZ twins discordant for BMI differ
in sleep behavior? Second, if they do, are differences in sleep
associated with non-genetic differences in the body weight and
metabolism or with other environmental factors? Obese twins had
higher nocturnal motor activity levels, less 'quiet sleep' and more
habitual snoring than their non-obese co-twins. Differences in sleep
were associated with obesity-related factors. However, habitual
snoring did not explain other intra-pair differences in sleep. It was
concluded, that relatively moderate obesity is associated with
disruption of physiological structure of sleep as measured by the
Static Charge Sensitive Bed method and this disruption seems not to
be associated with snoring or breathing disturbances.
Received 9 January 1995; accepted in final form 9 August 1995.
APS Manuscript Number A24-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 24 August 1995.