Circadian Activity and Sleep Associated With Blood Lipids in Arctic Residents

Oct 14, 2025Journal of sleep research

Daily Activity, Sleep, and Blood Fat Levels in People Living in the Arctic

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Robust circadian rhythms in physical activity are associated with improved blood lipid profiles in Arctic residents.

Lower intra-daily variability in physical activity is linked to lower triglycerides and triglyceride/HDL-C ratios.
Higher inter-daily stability of physical activity correlates with reduced triglyceride levels.
A greater amplitude of physical activity rhythms is associated with lower triglyceride levels.
Earlier timing of daily activity is related to higher total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Earlier wake times and higher sleep efficiency are associated with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

AI simplified

This longitudinal study of Arctic residents investigates how physical activity and sleep, known to be affected by extreme Arctic photoperiods, are linked to blood lipid profiles and thus cardiovascular disease risk in this particularly vulnerable population. We analyzed parametric and non-parametric actigraphy data of physical activity (PA) and sleep measures across three distinct photoperiods (winter solstice, spring equinox, and summer solstice) in a cohort of Arctic residents. Multiple regression models, adjusted for photoperiod, were employed to determine independent associations of PA and sleep parameters with total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG). Robust circadian rhythms in PA were significantly associated with improved lipid profiles. Specifically, lower intra-daily variability IV (β = 0.423, p < 0.001) and higher inter-daily stability IS (β = -0.263, p = 0.019) of PA, indicating stable and predictable daily activity patterns, were associated with lower TG and TG/HDL-C ratios. A greater amplitude of PA rhythms was also associated with lower TG (β = -0.345, p = 0.002). An earlier timing of daily activity (acrophase) was associated with higher TC and LDL-C (β = -0.492, p < 0.001), while earlier wake times (β = -0.309, p = 0.009) and higher sleep efficiency (β = 0.237, p = 0.011) were associated with higher HDL-C. These findings highlight the relevance of circadian rhythmicity in dyslipidemia management, particularly in extreme photoperiods, suggesting that lifestyle interventions promoting stable daily activity and sleep patterns may be associated with improved metabolic health and reduced cardiovascular risk.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text ↗

Circadian Activity and Sleep Associated With Blood Lipids in Arctic Residents

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief