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Light and liver: This is how artificial lighting endangers our health!
Prof. Dr. Özçürümez at Bochum University Hospital is researching how artificial light affects melatonin and poses health risks.
Light and liver: This is how artificial lighting endangers our health!
At a time when artificial light is omnipresent, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Özçürümez at the University Hospital Knappschaftsklinikum Bochum about the health consequences of this on our bodies. According to Özçürümez, constant exposure to artificial light leads to irregular sleep, late eating habits and increased indoor time. These changes can impair metabolism and contribute to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, which is anything but a good deal for health. News Ruhr reports that his team is studying the effects of light on the liver.
A central point in research is the hormone melatonin, which plays a key role in sleep. What is worrying is that a light level of just ten lux, comparable to the light on a full moon night, inhibits melatonin production. The negative effects of room light on melatonin production are clear. A study of 116 healthy volunteers showed that room light suppressed melatonin production, resulting in a later onset of melatonin in 99% of participants and shortening the duration of melatonin production by approximately 90 minutes. In more than half of the cases, melatonin production was reduced by over 50%, which can have far-reaching consequences for health. This is also reflected in the study by PMC clearly.
The role of the internal clock
But what actually happens in our bodies with all this light? The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus acts as the central control point for our circadian rhythm. This is closely coordinated with the natural light-dark cycle, which is reinforced by light. The constant influence of artificial light, especially in the evening, has significantly changed our sleeping patterns and general well-being. This can have negative effects on sleep and mood, as highlighted in another study examining the relationship between light and circadian rhythm disorders (CRSWD). These diseases often arise from a misadjustment of the body's own rhythms to these man-made lighting conditions. Melatonin facts provides an interesting overview of how light influences behavior and biological processes.
Given this issue, Özçürümez and his team are looking for participants for an ongoing study that analyzes the biorhythms of people with and without fatty liver disease. Various physiological parameters are observed over a period of 24 hours. These include blood pressure, body temperature and blood samples used to measure melatonin levels. The participants also document the lighting conditions with light sensors and fill out questionnaires about their activities and sleeping habits.
An innovative experimental setup makes it possible to artificially keep pig livers alive using a nutrient solution, which promises new insights into liver research. Ultimately, the researchers hope to uncover further insights that could help deepen our understanding of the interactions between light and health. An exciting time for medicine, in which the connections between light and our internal clocks are becoming increasingly clear.