Summary:
A study by the University of Surrey and the University of Aberdeen explored how a five-hour shift in sleep and meal timing due to jet lag affects metabolism, sleep, and alertness. Researchers found that while metabolism recovered within two to three days, sleep and brain clock disruptions persisted for more than five days. These findings highlight the differing impacts of circadian misalignment on various bodily processes and emphasize the importance of maintaining consistent sleep and eating schedules for overall health.
Key Takeaways:
- Faster Recovery for Metabolism: Metabolic effects, including changes in blood sugar, fat levels, and meal processing, resolved within two to three days after a five-hour time shift.
- Prolonged Sleep Disruption: Sleep and alertness impairments persisted for over five days, demonstrating the longer-lasting impact of circadian misalignment on the brain’s primary clock.
- Implications for Lifestyle Choices: The study underscores the importance of consistent sleep and eating patterns to mitigate the health impacts of jet lag and shift work.
Have you ever felt sluggish and out of sorts after a long-haul flight or a late-night shift? A new study from the University of Surrey and the University of Aberdeen has found that disruptions to our body clock, such as those experienced during jet lag, impact our metabolism—but to a lesser extent than sleepiness and the primary clock in the brain.
Led by professor Jonathan Johnston, PhD, at the University of Surrey and professor Alexandra Johnstone, PhD, at the University of Aberdeen, the research involved a controlled experiment where participants experienced a five-hour delay in their bedtime and mealtimes.
The study, published on iScience, highlights that the time shifts lead to:
- Reduced energy spent processing meals.
- Changes in blood sugar and fat levels.
- Slower release of breakfast contents from the stomach.
These metabolic effects were temporary, however, and mostly recovered within two to three days of the five-hour time delay. This was in marked contrast to the main clock in the brain, plus feelings of sleepiness and alertness, which had not recovered within five days of the five-hour time delay.
“Our research underscores the importance of maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, particularly in our fast-paced world in which long trips and shift work are ever so common. Even a small time shift can impact many aspects of metabolism, but it now seems that metabolic consequences of jet lag recover far more quickly than impairment of sleep and alertness,” says Johnston, professor of chronobiology and integrative physiology at the University of Surrey, in a release. “Understanding the impact of circadian rhythms on our health can help us make informed choices about our lifestyle. By optimizing our sleep and eating patterns, we can improve our overall well-being.”
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