10 Biomarkers in Saliva Can Now Detect Acute Sleep Deprivation, Study Finds
A groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) has identified 10 biomarkers in human saliva that can reliably indicate acute sleep deprivation. Published in the Journal of Proteome Research, this discovery marks the first time objective biological markers for fatigue have been found in bodily fluids under realistic conditions.
The Study
The research team analyzed saliva samples from 20 healthy young men using high-resolution mass spectrometry and machine learning. Participants underwent three distinct sleep conditions:
- No sleep for one night
- Four nights of only six hours' sleep
- A control condition of eight hours' sleep
Acute sleep deprivation affected approximately 10% of the biomolecules in saliva. From this data, the team identified ten specific biomarkers that reliably indicate fatigue.
Significance
Around one-third of the Swiss population reports sleep disorders, with women and young people aged 15–39 being most affected. Until now, objective measurement of sleep loss in bodily fluids was not possible.
"This finding is a milestone for forensic research."
— Professor Thomas Kraemer, UZH Institute of Forensic Medicine
First author Michael Scholz noted that the main challenge was identifying reliable indicators among tens of thousands of molecules.
Future Applications
The biomarker set is already patented. Researchers plan to test it in a larger field study involving shift workers, as well as the effects of alcohol and medications.
The ultimate goal is to develop a rapid, on-site test for fatigue detection. Such a tool could significantly improve road safety and safety in high-attention work environments.