Sleep and Detoxification
Sleep is a restorative process that plays a role in the foundation of health. Therefore, it is no surprise that sleep is an important focal point when someone is implementing a detoxification protocol. Sleep supports our antioxidant pathways by removing free radicals (1) and sleep deprivation leads to an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (4). Less than 6 hours of sleep a night is associated with an increase in oxidative stress, and over time this can play a major influence on adverse outcomes such as cancers, immune deficiency, neurological diseases, and cardiovascular disease (4).
One main area of interest is sleep’s effect on glutathione levels. Glutathione is an important compound in phase I and phase II detoxification reactions, as well as a potent antioxidant. It plays an important role in binding heavy metals for bioelimination (6). In a mouse study it was observed that sleep deprivation led to a significant reduction in glutathione levels within the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for one’s circadian rhythm (1).
Sleep also influences detoxification through the health of the liver. Sleep deprivation increases oxidative stress, decreases protein synthesis, and damages the liver, a major organ of detoxification (3). In a study on sleep deprived mice, it was measured that there was in increase in glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and total bilirubin indicating damage and stress put on the liver (4).
Melatonin is a hormone that is excreted when we sleep and may be one of the major ways that sleep supports our detoxification pathway. Melatonin scavenges free radicals, increase glutathione levels, and support the detoxification of bisphenol- A as well as other heavy metals like cadmium and mercury (2) (5).
When working with clients, I use the Suggestions for Better Sleep from the IFM as a way to support my clients in bettering their sleep schedule, depth, and hygiene.
References:
1. D’Almeida, V., Lobo, L. L., Hipólide, D. C., de Oliveira, A. C., Nobrega, J. N., & Tufik, S. (1998). Sleep deprivation induces brain region-specific decreases in glutathione levels. Neuroreport, 9(12), 2853–2856. https://doi-org.uws.idm.oclc.org/10.1097/00001756-199808240-00031. https://uws.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cmedm&AN=9760133&site=eds-live&scope=site
2. Kanwar, M. K., Xie, D., Yang, C., Ahammed, G. J., Qi, Z., Hasan, M. K., Reiter, R. J., Yu, J.-Q., & Zhou, J. (2020). Melatonin promotes metabolism of bisphenol A by enhancing glutathione-dependent detoxification in Solanum lycopersicum L. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 388. https://doi-org.uws.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121727. https://uws.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edselp&AN=S0304389419316814&site=eds-live&scope=site
3. Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Ji, G., Shen, Y., Zhao, N., Liang, Y., Wang, Z., Liu, M., & Lin, L. (2020). Autophagy Triggered by Oxidative Stress Appears to Be Mediated by the AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway in the Liver of Sleep-Deprived Rats. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020, 6181630. https://doi-org.uws.idm.oclc.org/10.1155/2020/6181630. https://uws.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mdc&AN=32148653&site=eds-live&scope=site
4. Periasamya, S., Dur-Zong Hsua, Yu-Hsuan Fu, & Ming-Yie Liu. (2015). Sleep Deprivation-Induced Multi-Organ Injury: Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. EXCLI Journal, 14, 672–683. https://doi-org.uws.idm.oclc.org/10.17179/excli2015-245 . https://uws.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=112239048&site=eds-live&scope=site
5. Şener, G., Şehirli, A. Ö., & Ayano, gcaron;lu-D. G. (2003). Melatonin Protects Against Mercury(II)-Induced Oxidative Tissue Damage in Rats. Pharmacology & Toxicology, 93(6), 290–296. https://doi-org.uws.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/j.1600-0773.2003.pto930607. https://uws.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=11680524&site=eds-live&scope=site
6. Wilczek, G., Babczyńska, A., Augustyniak, M., & Migula, P. (2004). Relations between metals (Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu) and glutathione-dependent detoxifying enzymes in spiders from a heavy metal pollution gradient. Environmental Pollution, 132(3), 453–461. https://doi-org.uws.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2004.05.011. https://uws.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edselp&AN=S0269749104002167&site=eds-live&scope=site
