An international team says that a disrupted body clock can cause a higher risk of obesity and diabetes, but their new research would benefit international travellers, shift workers and even people suffering from obesity-related conditions.
In their research, Prof Chris Liddle at the University of Sydney and colleagues at Salk Institute based in the US, have shown the importance of circadian receptors found both in the brain and the liver, the 'Nature' journal reported.
"The research is important as these are the first core component of the circadian clock identified that can be targeted with drugs, which could provide relief for those affected by disrupted circadian rhythms," said Prof Liddle.
The circadian clock is an internal daily body clock that controls alertness, appetite, sleep timing and hormone secretions. People with circadian disturbances tend to have a higher incidence of health concerns such as obesity, diabetes.
"People tend to think that the clock is just something that happens in the brain but it's a whole-body issue. You do not feel like exercising and your metabolism slows when you are in a certain part of the cycle. This contributes to obesity-related problems.
"When you fly overseas, not only do you wake up in the middle of the night, you probably notice you want to eat in the middle of the night, and that during the day you have reduced energy. The liver is a key player in the regulation of energy and we now understand quite a bit more how liver genes 'clock in' to the circadian cycle," Prof Liddle said. (MORE) PTI MOT
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