Is there a connection between jetlag, intestinal flora and health? - Simply Healthy Sleep - The online-magazine for your perfect sleep experience

It is no secret that following our inner clock is beneficially for our sleep. Shift work, changing of times to summer- resp. wintertime, travelling over several time zones are influences that disturb our natural rhythm and create a jetlag.

But, it is new that our intestinal bacteria are having an inner clock, too. Israeli scientists informed in the journal “cell” about their studies that lead to their conclusion, that a jetlag may trigger overweight and metabolic diseases by unbalancing the intestinal bacteria.

Intestine – home of health and immune system
Our intestine makes a significant contribution to our health and sensitively reacts on inner and outer influences. But not only our diet, our dealing with stress as well as antibiotics influence this sensitive organ but also jetlag.

First, the scientists investigated the composition of bacteria with mice. Here, they discovered that different kinds of bacteria increase and decrease during the course of a day. But, the changing of the intestinal flora is subjected to another rhythm: during darkness with mice –- being a nocturnal species -– metabolic paths of food utilization, growth or energy balance outweigh. During brightness, detoxification dominated, amongst others.

According to the scientists, the time of feeding was impulse generator of the inner clock of the intestinal bacteria. With one part of the mice, feeding times as well as day-and-night rhythm were changed, one part stayed in their normal rhythm. The result: the change clearly disturbed the intestinal flora. When fed with fatty foods the “disturbed” mice developed overweight and glucose intolerance, the “normal” mice didn’t.

In further studies, the scientists demonstrated that the human intestinal flora is subjected to rhythm and variations, too, and that therewith a jetlag too changes to combination of bacteria.

A further plea for following the own inner clock and to thereby make an active contribution to supporting the own health!