Chronic drinking can disrupt production of the genes that control the body's daily biological (circadian) rhythms, leading to problems such as sleep disruption and mood changes.
Chronic drinking can disrupt production of the genes that control the body's daily biological (circadian) rhythms, leading to problems such as sleep disruption and mood changes.
Past studies have shown clear interactions between chronic alcohol consumption and circadian rhythmicity that is regulated by several circadian clock genes. Researchers compared blood samples from 22 male alcoholics and 12 healthy men in Taiwan to assess the levels of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) in patients with alcohol dependence undergoing alcohol withdrawal treatment. Blood sample of all healthy participants was collected once and from alcoholics samples were collected twice once on the day of admission in the alcohol withdrawal treatment and second on the seventh day of the treatment.
Chronic alcohol consumption was found associated with a destruction of normal circadian clock gene expression. This altered expression is closely related to circadian rhythm dysfunction and might link to a variety of physiological problems, such as sleep / wake cycle dysregulation, depression, and even cancer.
The circadian clock genes in the alcoholic patients had significantly lower levels of mRNA - that help to manufacture proteins. Also, production of circadian rhythm genes was not restored after patients underwent early alcohol withdrawal treatment.
The study shows that chronic drinking can have long-term damaging effects on the expression of circadian rhythm-responsible genes.
Past studies have shown clear interactions between chronic alcohol consumption and circadian rhythmicity that is regulated by several circadian clock genes. Researchers compared blood samples from 22 male alcoholics and 12 healthy men in Taiwan to assess the levels of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) in patients with alcohol dependence undergoing alcohol withdrawal treatment. Blood sample of all healthy participants was collected once and from alcoholics samples were collected twice once on the day of admission in the alcohol withdrawal treatment and second on the seventh day of the treatment.
Chronic alcohol consumption was found associated with a destruction of normal circadian clock gene expression. This altered expression is closely related to circadian rhythm dysfunction and might link to a variety of physiological problems, such as sleep / wake cycle dysregulation, depression, and even cancer.
The circadian clock genes in the alcoholic patients had significantly lower levels of mRNA - that help to manufacture proteins. Also, production of circadian rhythm genes was not restored after patients underwent early alcohol withdrawal treatment.
The study shows that chronic drinking can have long-term damaging effects on the expression of circadian rhythm-responsible genes.
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