New study investigates how jetlag can disrupt our metabolism
Have you ever felt sluggish and out of sorts after a long-haul flight or a late-night shift?

A new study from the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ and the University of Aberdeen has found that disruptions to our body clock, such as those experienced during jetlag, impact our metabolism – but to a lesser extent than sleepiness and the primary clock in the brain.
Led by Professor Jonathan Johnston at the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ and Professor Alexandra Johnstone at the University of Aberdeen, the research involved a controlled experiment where participants experienced a 5-hour delay in their bedtime and mealtimes.
The study, published on iScience, highlights that the time shifts lead to:
- Reduced energy spent processing meals.
- Changes in blood sugar and fat levels.
- Slower release of breakfast contents from the stomach.
These metabolic effects were temporary, however, and mostly recovered within 2-3 days of the 5-hour time delay. This was in marked contrast to the main clock in the brain, plus feelings of sleepiness and alertness, which had not recovered within 5 days of the 5-hour time delay.
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