Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in the United States have found that eating at night may still be more dangerous than sleep deprivation.
A controlled study has confirmed that eating at the right time of day can be even more important for the functioning of the cardiovascular system than sleeping patterns. In particular, the authors of the study found that people who ate exclusively during the day significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular problems.
«Our previous research has shown that imbalances in circadian rhythms — the mismatch between our behavioral cycles and our internal biological clocks — increase risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We wanted to understand what can be done to reduce this risk, and our new study shows that it may be choosing the right time to eat», — explains senior author Frank Shear, PhD, professor of medicine and director of the Medical Chronobiology Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
According to the results of previous animal studies, scientists have found that food intake regimen which coincides with the internal biological clock, can reduce the negative effects of lack of sleep at night. In the new study, researchers selected 20 healthy young participants. They were placed in a windowless room and denied access to watches and gadgets that could tell them what time it was.
It was decided to test the effect of circadian rhythm imbalance by comparing how their body functions changed before and after simulating working at night. The study participants had to follow a protocol of «constant schedule», during which they were deprived of sleep for 32 hours in a room with low light. They had to stay in the same unchanged position at all times, eating the same snacks every hour. After that, the volunteers were forced to simulate night work. They were offered to eat only at night or during the day. Importantly, both groups had the same daytime sleep schedule, and thus any differences between the groups were not due to differences in sleep schedule.
The authors of the study analyzed the effects of eating at night and the impact on the cardiovascular system. They measured markers of the autonomic nervous system, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (increases the risk of blood clots) and blood pressure, as well as other indicators.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease increased after simulated night work compared to baseline in participants who had to eat both day and night. However, in the study participants who ate only during the day, the risk factors remained unchanged, although the amount and type of food did not differ between the groups, only the time of eating.
The study notes that avoiding or limiting food intake at night may be beneficial for night workers, those with insomnia or sleep-wake disorders, people with variable sleep-wake cycles, and those who frequently travel to countries with different time zones.
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The results of the study were published in the journal Nature
Source: SkiTechDaily
