THE EFFECT OF SLEEP ON HUMAN BASAL METABOLISM, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO SOUTH INDIAN WOMEN

Abstract

In 7 South Indian women, whose basal metabolism when awake averaged 207 % below the Harris-Benedict standards, O2 consumption during sleep decreased 9.8%. The metabolism of 2 western women, measured in India under the same conditions, showed a decrease of ca. 10% during sleep, as commonly found in American laboratories. The low basal (awake) metabolic level of the South Indian women is thus not explained by a greater degree of relaxation.