The lights during the night are the focus of studies to understand their incidence in our good sleep.However, in a recent sample conducted by researchers in China, specialists report that night artificial lights, even outdoors, alter the biological clock thus affecting blood sugar control.
Urban lights, cars and well -lit marquesins can have a harmful effect on metabolic health, according to specialists in an article who have just published in the specialized magazine Diabetology.
In it, the work team points out that the findings have especially important implications for night shift workers.The discovery also impacts the people who like to use smartphones or tablets in bed.
Those exposed to the greatest amount of light were 28% more likely to develop diabetes."Although more than 80% of the world's population is exposed to light pollution during the night, this problem has received limited attention from scientists until recent years," says Zhiyun Zhao, specialist at the National Center ofShanghai clinical research for metabolic diseases.
There is more and more evidence that 24 -hour life styles 7 days a week are wreaking havoc in human health by interfering with melatonin production.Natural brain hormone helps regulate circadian rhythms and body protection against disease.
Chronic exposure to residential exterior artificial light showed a link with an increase in glucose levels, insulin resistance and diabetes prevalence.
The analysis used data from the Chinese Non -Trans -Transitable Disease Surveillance Study, a representative sample of the general population in 162 sites throughout the country.A total of 98,658 participants underwent interviews to collect demographic, medical information, family income, lifestyle, education and family history.The equipment measured the body weight and height to calculate the BMI and collected blood samples to obtain fasting glucose levels and after meals, as well as glucosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C).This is a glucose form linked to the red blood cells that acts as a mobile average blood sugar during the last eight to 12 weeks.
The researchers assigned to the participants an average level of exposure to external artificial light for that location using satellite images.They divided into five groups, from highest to lowest.On average, for every 42 people living in the regions with the highest exposure to light, there were 1 more diabetes case.Its global nature is illustrated by the fact that more than 99% of people in the US. And Europe live under heavens with light pollution.
Not only are residents of large cities affected, but also those of distant areas, such as suburbs and parks, hundreds of miles from light sources.
The 24-hour day-night cycle of the Earth has resulted in most organisms, including humans, to have a incorporated circadian timing system.It adapts to the natural sequence of periods of light and dark.It has been discovered that light pollution alters the circadian rhythm of insects, birds and other animals, resulting in premature death and loss of biodiversity.
The authors conclude that "more studies are needed that involve the direct measurement of the individual exposure to LAN to confirm whether their relationship with diabetes is causal."Although they indicate it as a potential cause of metabolic deregulation, when altering the moment of the intake offood.
Another study found that the mice exposed to a minimum night brightness night light for four weeks had increased body mass and reduced glucose tolerance.This was compared to animals whose environment was completely dark at night, despite having approximately equivalent consumption and energy expenditure.
Associations between light pollution and humans health have also been found.A study of workers in the night shift found that those exposed to a brighter light were more likely to have interrupted circadian rhythms, as well as a greater risk of coronary heart disease.Other studies have found that more exposure to light is associated with an increase of between 13 and 22 percent in the probability of having overweight and obesity, respectively.
Exposure to light in the bedroom, such as the blue light of smartphones and tablets, also shows a connection with the development of diabetes among the elderly."Positive associations indicate an urgent need for countries and governments to develop effective prevention and intervention policies and protect people from adverse effects for the health of night light pollution," the researchers conclude.