‘Night Owls’ Could Have Greater Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease Than Those Who Are ‘Early Birds’

Summary: Early birds use more fat for energy during both rest and exercise than night owls. Those who wake early are also more insulin sensitive, while those who stay up late are more insulin resistant, meaning they require more insulin to lower blood glucose levels and are more prone to consuming carbohydrates as an energy source over fats.

Source: The Physiological Society

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Our activity patterns and sleep cycles could influence our risk of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

New research published in Experimental Physiology found wake/sleep cycles cause metabolic differences and alter our body’s preference for energy sources.

The researchers found that those who stay up later have a reduced ability to use fat for energy, meaning fats may build-up in the body and increase risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The metabolic differences relate to how well each group can use insulin to promote glucose uptake by the cells for storage and energy use.

People who are ‘early birds’ (individuals who prefer to be active in the morning) rely more on fat as an energy source and are more active during the day with higher levels of aerobic fitness than ‘night owls’.

On the other hand, ‘night owls’ (people who prefer to be active later in the day and night) use less fat for energy at rest and during exercise.

Researchers from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA classified participants (n=51) into two groups (early and late) based on their ‘chronotype’ – our natural propensity to seek activity and sleep at different times.

They used advanced imaging to assess body mass and body composition, as well as insulin sensitivity and breath samples to measure fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

Participants were monitored for a week to assess their activity patterns across the day. They ate a calorie and nutrition-controlled diet and had to fast overnight to minimise dietary impact on the results.

To study fuel preference, they were tested while at rest before completing two 15-minute bouts of exercise: one moderate and one high intensity session on a treadmill.

Aerobic fitness levels were tested through an incline challenge where the incline was raised 2.5% every two minutes until the participant reached a point of exhaustion.

Researchers found that early birds use more fat for energy at both rest and during exercise than night owls. Early birds were also more insulin sensitive. Night owls, on the other hand, are insulin resistant, meaning their bodies require more insulin to lower blood glucose levels, and their bodies favoured carbohydrates as an energy source over fats.

This shows a light on at night
Researchers found that early birds use more fat for energy at both rest and during exercise than night owls. Image is in the public domain

This group’s impaired ability to respond to insulin to promote fuel use can be harmful as it indicates a greater risk of type 2 diabetes and/or heart disease. The cause for this shift in metabolic preference between early birds and night owls is yet unknown and needs further investigation.

Senior author Professor Steven Malin, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA said:

“The differences in fat metabolism between ‘early birds’ and ‘night owls’ shows that our body’s circadian rhythm (wake/sleep cycle) could affect how our bodies use insulin. A sensitive or impaired ability to respond to the insulin hormone has major implications for our health.

“This observation advances our understanding of how our body’s circadian rhythms impact our health. Because chronotype appears to impact our metabolism and hormone action, we suggest that chronotype could be used as a factor to predict an individual’s disease risk.”

“We also found that early birds are more physically active and have higher fitness levels than night owls who are more sedentary throughout the day.

“Further research is needed to examine the link between chronotype, exercise and metabolic adaptation to identify whether exercising earlier in the day has greater health benefits.”

About this circadian rhythm and health research news

Author: Alanna Orpen
Source: The Physiological Society
Contact: Alanna Orpen – The Physiological Society
Image: The image is in the public domain

Original Research: Open access.
Early Chronotype with Metabolic Syndrome favors Resting and Exercise Fat Oxidation in Relation to Insulin-stimulated Non-Oxidative Glucose Disposal” by Steven Malin et al. Experimental Physiology


Abstract

Early Chronotype with Metabolic Syndrome favors Resting and Exercise Fat Oxidation in Relation to Insulin-stimulated Non-Oxidative Glucose Disposal

New Findings

  • What is the central question of this study? Chronotype reflects differences in circadian-mediated metabolic and hormonal profiles. But, does resting and/or exercise fuel use differ in early versus late chronotype as it relates to insulin sensitivity?

  • What are the main finding and its importance? Early chronotypes with metabolic syndrome utilized more fat during rest and exercise independent of aerobic fitness when compared with late chronotypes. Early chronotypes were also more physically active throughout the day. Greater fat use was related to non-oxidative glucose disposal. These findings suggest that early chronotypes have differences in fuel selection that associate with type 2 diabetes risk.
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