Fat-Rich Diets Alter Body Clock
Following a fat-rich diet not only causes excess weight gain, but also affects the balance of circadian rhythms, the biological clock.
The biological clock regulates the activity of enzymes and hormones involved in metabolism; as a result, any disturbance in circadian rhythms can lead to hormonal imbalance, obesity, psychological disorders, sleep disorders and cancer.
While previous studies have named light as the strongest factor influencing the circadian clock, the new study shows a strong relation between the diet and biological clock imbalance. According to the study to be published in the Endocrinology, a high-fat diet sets back the production of proteins responsible for the metabolism of fatty acids, leading to altered adiponectin signaling pathways and consequently the disruption of clock-controlled systems.
Scientists believe their findings can also explain metabolic disorders, increased blood pressure levels and altered sleep/wake cycles frequently reported following the disruption of the body’s circadian clock.
Source: presstv.com
Body Clock Determines Diabetes Risk
A new study shows that any disorder in ones circadian rhythms places the individual at greater risk of developing Type II diabetes. According to the study published in the Nature Genetics, faulty internal body clock genes contribute to high blood sugar levels and Type II diabetes.
Findings have revealed that two gene variants on MTNR1B responsible for the development of diabetes are somehow connected to the internal body clock. MTNR1B is a gene which controls the secretion of melaconin, a hormone which controls the 24-hour-day-night cycle. Disorders in melatonin secretion were previously linked to jetlag and other sleep disorders.
The study showed that sleeping problems are associated with higher obesity risk which in turn results in Type II diabetes. Scientists believe the link between obesity, diabetes and circadian rhythms may page the way for developing new treatments for these conditions.
Source: medicalnewstoday.com