May 5, 2024

“Night Owls” Have a Decreased Ability To Burn Fat and an Increased Risk of Heart Disease

Scientists discovered that early birds use more fat for energy at both rest and throughout exercise than night owls. Night owls, on the other hand, are insulin resistant, indicating their bodies need more insulin to lower blood glucose levels, and their bodies preferred carbs as an energy source over fats.
Senior author Professor Steven Malin, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA said: “The differences in fat metabolic process between early birds and night owls programs that our bodys circadian rhythm (wake/sleep cycle) might affect how our bodies use insulin.

The research study found that people who stay up later have a lower ability to utilize fat for energy.
Could our sleep patterns truly impact our threat of disease?
Are you a night owl or an early bird? Our day-to-day routines of activity and sleep might affect our opportunities of establishing illnesses like type 2 diabetes and heart problem. A current research study released in the journal Experimental Physiology found that wake/sleep cycles modify our bodys choice for energy sources and cause metabolic differences.
According to the study, those who remain up later on have actually a reduced ability to burn fat for energy, which implies that fats may accumulate in the body and raise the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The metabolic distinctions relate to how efficiently each group can use insulin to promote glucose uptake by cells for storage and energy consumption. Early risers, or those who like to be active in the early morning, depend more on fat as a source of energy and are more active throughout the day with greater levels of physical fitness than “night owls.” Conversely, “night owls” (those who like to be active later on in the day and at night) utilize less fat for energy both at rest and throughout exercise.

Scientists from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA classified individuals (n= 51) into two groups (late and early) based upon their chronotype– our natural propensity to look for activity and sleep at different times. They used advanced imaging to evaluate body mass and body structure, in addition to insulin level of sensitivity and breath samples to measure carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
To study fuel preference, they were evaluated while at rest before completing two 15-minute bouts of exercise: one moderate and one high-intensity session on a treadmill. Aerobic physical fitness levels were checked through a slope obstacle where the incline was raised 2.5% every 2 minutes till the individual reached a point of exhaustion.
Scientists discovered that early birds use more fat for energy at both rest and throughout workout than night owls. Early birds were also more insulin delicate. Night owls, on the other hand, are insulin resistant, meaning their bodies need more insulin to lower blood glucose levels, and their bodies favored carbs as an energy source over fats.
This groups impaired capability to react to insulin to promote fuel use can be damaging as it suggests a greater risk of type 2 diabetes and/or heart illness. The cause for this shift in metabolic choice in between early birds and night owls is yet unidentified and requires additional examination.
Senior author Professor Steven Malin, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA said: “The distinctions in fat metabolism between early birds and night owls programs that our bodys circadian rhythm (wake/sleep cycle) might impact how our bodies utilize insulin. Since chronotype appears to impact our metabolism and hormonal agent action, we suggest that chronotype could be utilized as a factor to anticipate an individuals illness threat.”
He continues, “We likewise discovered that early birds are more physically active and have higher physical fitness levels than night owls who are more inactive throughout the day. More research is needed to take a look at the link in between chronotype, workout, and metabolic adaptation to determine whether exercising earlier in the day has greater health benefits.”
Recommendation: “Early chronotype with metabolic syndrome favours resting and exercise fat oxidation in relation to insulin-stimulated non-oxidative glucose disposal” by Steven K. Malin, Mary-Margaret E. Remchak, Anthony J. Smith, Tristan J. Ragland, Emily M. Heiston and Udeyvir Cheema, 19 September 2022, Experimental Physiology.DOI: 10.1113/ EP090613.

A current study published in the journal Experimental Physiology discovered that wake/sleep cycles customize our bodys preference for energy sources and trigger metabolic distinctions.
Conversely, “night owls” (those who like to be active later in the day and at night) utilize less fat for energy both at rest and during workout.