Does staying up late but getting sufficient sleep harm the liver?

May 28, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

I am 21 years old this year. I have heard that staying up late is harmful to the liver, but I don't know whether getting sufficient sleep is also harmful. I would like to know whether staying up late but getting enough sleep still damages the liver?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Gao Jun

In general, staying up late but still getting sufficient sleep may still cause a certain degree of damage to the liver. Although adequate sleep duration can partially alleviate the negative effects caused by staying up late, the impacts of late-night activities on the liver's biological clock, metabolic functions, and repair capabilities cannot be ignored.

The liver possesses an independent biological clock system that participates in regulating physiological functions such as glucose and lipid metabolism, detoxification, and protein synthesis. Staying up late can disrupt the liver's circadian rhythm, leading to metabolic disorders. At night, the liver should naturally reduce the activity of gluconeogenesis; however, staying up late might cause this process to remain active, increasing the risk of blood glucose fluctuations and fat accumulation.

Staying up late may reduce the activity of lipoprotein lipase, leading to elevated blood lipid levels and increasing the risk of fatty liver disease. Late-night habits may also trigger insulin resistance, resulting in increased blood glucose levels, which over time could potentially induce non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The liver is a primary metabolic organ in the human body, responsible for detoxification, protein synthesis, and energy storage.

Therefore, even with sufficient sleep, frequent late-night activities remain an unhealthy lifestyle choice, potentially posing long-term risks to the health of the liver and other organs. It is recommended to maintain a regular sleep-wake schedule as much as possible and avoid unnecessary late nights to promote overall health.