United States – People who prefer to work at night have a 47% higher chance of getting type 2 diabetes than those who have an early bedtime, according to research.
But it is not only that they have unhealthy life styles as revealed in a study during the annual meeting of European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Madrid, as reported by HealthDay.
Circadian Rhythm Disruption and Metabolic Health
Conclusively, researchers found that there was an increased rate of type-2 diabetes in night workers even after erasing other factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, alcohol intake reciprocation, and poor sleep, among others.
“A likely explanation is that the circadian rhythm or body clock in late chronotypes is out of sync with the work and social schedules followed by society,” said lead investigator Jeroen van der Velde, a postdoctoral researcher with Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. “This can lead to circadian misalignment, which we know can lead to metabolic disturbances and ultimately type 2 diabetes.”
Study Insights and Findings
For the study, the investigators looked at the health records of more than 5,000 patients enrolled in a long-term study of body fat and disease.
The data comprised the usual bed and waking times of participants and some other aspects of their lifestyle which might pose them to diabetes, the researchers explained.
“That’s why earlier reports suggested that a person who prefers to go to bed late and wake up in the morning later has an unhealthy lifestyle,” said van der Velde in the news release of a meeting. “They are more inclined to smoke or have an unhealthy diet as claimed, for instance, that it makes them prone to obesity and metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes. ”
In the six-year follow-up, 225 participants developed type 2 diabetes.
It established that they are 46 percent more likely to have type 2 diabetes, and the results persisted even when they put lifestyle factors into consideration.
The investigators also found that contrary to current research, early birds did not have a statistically higher likelihood of diabetes; this also applies to people with normal sleep time in advanced age.
Impact on Body Composition
Research further reveals that night owls have a greater body Mass Index BMI, a larger waist, and more concealed fat deposits.
For instance, they have 14% higher liver fat compared to people who go to bed at the normal time, as researchers found.
Potential Solutions and Future Research
“People with a late chronotype appear to be at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with intermediate chronotype, possibly because of higher body fat including more visceral [organ] fat and liver fat,” van der Velde said. “The next step is to study if those with a late chronotype improve in metabolic health when they make changes in the timing of their lifestyle habits.”
For instance, the night owls could adjust their meal time and reduce their unhealthy habits, according to van der Velde, as reported by HealthDay.
“Late chronotypes are likely to have supper in the evening,” van der Velde posited. “Although this was not determined in our study, there is an emerging literature that supports the effectiveness of time-restricted feeding, whereby one does not consume any food after a particular time, for instance, 6 p.m., in contributing to metabolic effects. ”
“Night owls who are concerned about the increased risk of type 2 diabetes might want to try this or, at least, try to refrain from eating late in the evening,” van der Velde added. “The evidence isn’t there yet, but in time, we aim to provide specific advice regarding the timing of lifestyle behavior.”