To work on the effects of jet lag, researchers at the University of Surrey in Britain delayed the bedtime of 22 healthy men and women by four hours for three days in a row. They then had them undergo blood tests which showed that when their sleep rhythm was normal, 6% of their genes were programmed to be more or less active during the day whereas after having modified their sleep / wake cycle, this programming was deeply disturbed. “In fact, reversing the sleep cycle wreaks havoc deep in the DNA,” said Dr. Simon Archer, who led this study.
“We are conducting this research to show what influences jet lag or night work have on the functioning of our genes. We were surprised to see that the first effects are felt so quickly. Which leads us to believe that after several weeks at this rate, it is a real genetic chaos that we must attend ”insists the doctor who published the results of his study in the Journal of the Academy of Sciences from Great Britain.
Night work: effects on health
Other previous studies had already shown that night or shift work can have devastating effects on health. This shift disrupts our circadian rhythm (the wake / sleep rhythm) and has a direct effect on blood sugar levels. This not only causes weight gain but also increases the risk of diabetes and doubles the risk of breast cancer.
