Possible mechanism for the relationship between sleep disorders and metabolic syndrome
A study in mice suggests that the system of the brain that controls the sleep / wake cycle might also play a role in regulating appetite and metabolism. Mice with a mutation in a gene called Clock, which helps drive circadian rhythm, ate more and gained more weight. The discovery could help explain why disrupted sleep patterns, especially when combined with a high-fat diet - are associated with excessive weight gain and the onset of metabolic syndrome in some people, researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).The study, by Fred W. Turek, Ph.D., Deputy Joseph, MD, Ph.D., of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and others are on the Science Express Web site, sciencemag / Science Xpress / recent . shtml, 21 April 2005. The National Institute on
Aging (NIA), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) supported this work. NIA, NHLBI and NIDDK are components of the NIH in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.At least 40 million Americans have chronic sleep problems, and another 20 million experience occasional sleep problems. As many as 47 million Americans have metabolic syndrome, a set of conditions shown to increase the risk of people with heart disease and stroke. The National Cholesterol Education Program metabolic syndrome definitio to have at least three of the following risk factors: hypertension, hyperglycemia (sugar) that may indicate a risk for diabetes, high triglycerides, low levels of good
cholesterol, and a life of large .Scientists have found that circadian rhythms (which control the sleep / wake and other biological processes), hunger and satiety are regulated by centers within a brain structure called the hypothalamus. In addition, previous studies in humans have suggested that sleep disturbance may contribute to obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In the latter work, Turek and his colleagues found
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