Shift work disrupts intestinal flora

Shift work and differences in time among traveling are burden for the organism. A study has now shown that they can even negatively affect the intestinal flora – with manifold consequences.

We know that shift work and the frequent changes of time zones bring not only tired but also promote obesity and metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Why this is so still not clear. Now American scientists have found that the intestinal flora may be involved in these changes.

The researchers discover that initially by experiments on mice, if changed the composition of the intestinal flora during the day, changed bacteria in the intestinal flora and their activity depending on the time of day watching.

Alternate day-night rhythm promotes obesity.

In a second step, the scientists kept the animals at irregular light and dark conditions and fed them at different times. Faecal samples of the mice showed that changing rhythm in the intestinal flora of the animals take them out of the balance. Thus the activity and composition of bacteria changed significantly. And yet another consequence the researchers were able to determine: The mice that received a high-fat diet, and contained in the normal daily rhythm did not accept the animals, whose were kept in changing circadian rhythms.

That disturbances rhythm of life can alter the intestinal flora in humans, showed a further test: When two people flew from the US to Israel, the researchers has found a significantly alteration in composition of the intestinal flora. Furthermore, the jet lag seemed to have just favors the growth of those bacterial species that are suspected of causing overweight and metabolic disorders.

You could try Probiotics.

The change of intestinal bacteria and irregular daily rhythms, such as often flying through the time zones for shift work or travel may entail development of obesity and diseases such as diabetes. The American researchers now hope to open up the “antidote” with their conclusions: Possibly probiotic therapy could reduce the changes of intestinal flora and help to avoid the negative consequences.