Hypotheses of Protein Restriction Induced Sleep Impairment: My Experience (A Preconclusive Report)

[Youㅤ]

Background​

Protein restriction is achieved by fasting on Sundays and consuming a very low-protein diet (10–20 grams per day) on the days before and after fasting (Friday, Saturday, Monday). Example meals include potato and butter, fruit and cream, avocado and tomatoes.

I have observed that protein restriction causes frequent awakenings (up to 10 times per night, unrelated to urination) and light, fragmented sleep, characterized by conceptual rather than visual dreams. However, sleep onset remains unaffected. In contrast, when protein intake is sufficient, awakenings are rare and typically linked to external causes.

As a side note, supplementing 0.5 grams of NAC (N-acetylcysteine) and 1 gram of taurine did not normalize sleep during protein restriction. This suggests that these amino acids are unlikely to be the limiting factor, though higher doses were not tested.

Hypotheses​

1. Melatonin Hypothesis​

Protein restriction minimizes tryptophan intake, presumably leading to tryptophan depletion. Since tryptophan is a precursor to melatonin, lower tryptophan levels could result in inadequate melatonin production, leading to sleep fragmentation.

Test:

• Supplement 10–20 mg of time-released melatonin on protein-restricted nights and observe whether sleep improves.
• A more direct test would be tryptophan supplementation before bed, but I prefer melatonin because:
  • Melatonin supplementation has extended lifespan in model organisms.
  • Tryptophan depletion has extended lifespan in mice.

2. Orexin Hypothesis​

Orexin (hypocretin) is a wakefulness-promoting neuropeptide. Increased orexin activity or heightened sensitivity to orexin could cause sleep instability.

• High protein intake inhibits orexin activity (1), suggesting that low protein intake could increase orexin activity, leading to more frequent awakenings.

3. Null Hypothesis​

While protein restriction appears to cause sleep instability, other factors could be responsible.

• The nutrients found in high-protein foods (e.g., cheese, beef, eggs) could be necessary for sound sleep, rather than protein itself.

Test:

• Supplement pure protein powder (lacking other nutrients) during protein restriction and observe if sleep stabilizes.
• If sleep remains poor despite protein supplementation, then other micronutrients (e.g., B vitamins, zinc, or iron) may be involved.

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[Mr.Proper]

Whats the point of such fasting, in your case?
Also, gpt abuse.

 

[Youㅤ]

Whats the point of such fasting, in your case?
Also, gpt abuse.

longevity science look into protein restriction in models like flies and mice. (lowered mTOR, IGF-1, increased FGF21, to name a few putative mechanistic theories)

i wrote allthe ideas myswelf i used chatgpt to format as u can tell in this reply my writing is sloopy