People who sleep more than six hours a night produce significantly more antibodies after getting their jabs.
It’s well established that sleep is vital for our health – it reduces the risk of everything from heart disease and stroke to obesity and dementia. Now, a study carried out by researchers based in Paris, France, and Chicago, USA, has found that getting a good night’s shuteye can also boost our bodies’ immune response to vaccinations.
To investigate the effect of sleep on vaccine effectiveness, the team combined the results of seven studies looking at jabs for influenza and hepatitis A and B and compared the antibody responses of those who slept a normal, healthy amount of seven to nine hours a night with those who slept six or less.
In each study, the participants’ sleep was measured in a lab environment, at home via a sleep-tracking smartwatch or self-reported.
They found that sleeping less than six hours per night significantly reduced immune response to vaccination. However, the difference was most prominent in men, perhaps due to women’s fluctuating sex hormones.
“We know from immunology studies that sex hormones influence the immune system,” said lead researcher Karine Spiegel from the French National Institute of Health and Medicine.
“In women, immunity is influenced by the state of the menstrual cycle, the use of contraceptives, and by menopause and post-menopausal status, but unfortunately, none of the studies that we summarised had any data about sex hormone levels.”
The negative effect was also more pronounced in those aged 18 to 60 compared to the over 65s. This is likely due to older people tending to sleep less.
While there is still more to be investigated about the relationship between sleep and vaccination, knowing the two are linked could help people to make lifestyle choices to boost their immunity, the researchers say.
“We need to understand the sex differences, which days around the time of vaccination are most important, and exactly how much sleep is needed so that we can give guidance to people,” said Spiegel.
“We are going to be vaccinating millions and millions of people in the next few years, and this is an aspect that can help maximise protection.”
Read more about sleep:
- Early risers and night owls: A sleep expert explains the best time to exercise
- Why is my brain buzzing at 3am, but comatose at 3pm?
- Sandman: Is there any evidence to suggest our dreams have meaning?