Melatonin is a hormone secreted in large quantities at night or in weak light. Its main function is to regulate the sleep wake cycle. So how do melatonin receptor genes and dinner time affect an individual’s blood glucose control? Is there any association between the risk of type 2 diabetes and the risk of type 2 diabetes?

Recently, researchers from the Harvard Medical School Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Brigham and Women (s Hospital, BWH) scholar, the joint research team from the United States and Spain explored this issue and published research results in the diabetes Journal (Diabetes Care). The results showed that: 1) 1 hours before bedtime (when endogenous melatonin level was high), eating supper resulted in low insulin secretion and impaired glucose tolerance, which increased the risk of type 2 diabetes. 2) Especially in individuals with melatonin receptor MTNR1B gene mutation, this risk is higher.

Previous studies have shown that melatonin receptor 1B gene (MTNR1B) can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes mellitus, which has been considered as a genetic bridge between circadian rhythm and glucose metabolism.

The purpose of this study is to explore whether carriers of type 2 diabetes related G alleles, especially in the MTNR1B gene, are involved in the increase of endogenous melatonin levels (such as before bedtime). The randomized crossover study included 845 Spanish adults aged 18 and -70 who had no diabetes history and no history of drug use.

The study set up two meal times: “early dinner group”, that is, eating dinner 4 hours before the regular sleep time; And “late dinner group”, i.e. eating dinner 1 hour before normal sleep time. All subjects were randomly divided into one group, then changed to another group on the other night, and then repeated the test of relevant indicators.

Eating dinner was simulated by an oral glucose tolerance test. After fasting for 8 hours, each subject took 75 grams of glucose beverage orally for the next two nights to simulate early and late eating. The glucose tolerance (blood glucose and insulin response) of the two groups of subjects within 2 hours after meal (every 30 minutes) and the difference between MTNR1B G allele carriers and non carriers were recorded.

Too late for dinner, poor blood glucose control

The research team found that,

Melatonin levels in the blood of subjects in the late dinner group were 3.5 times higher than those in the early dinner group.

Late dinner time also led to the area under the insulin curve (AUC), which is used to evaluate islets β The index of cell function) decreased by 6.7%, and the AUC of glucose increased by 8.3%, that is, the later the dinner time, the lower the insulin level and the higher the blood glucose level. The researchers say the association is reasonable because insulin reduces blood glucose levels.

Subjects with the MTNR1B G allele had higher blood glucose levels than those without this gene variant when they ate late at dinner. Genotypic differences in glucose tolerance were attributed to the MTNR1B G allele population β Decreased cell function.

The results showed that carbohydrate intake (a typical feature of late eating), especially MTNR1B G allele carriers, while endogenous melatonin levels increased, impaired blood glucose control, which could be attributed to defective insulin secretion.

Therefore, late dinner time increases the risk of diabetes.

Evidence for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus

“Our findings may be important for strategies to prevent type 2 diabetes.” Dr. Frank a.j.l. Scheer, CO senior author of the study and director of the BWh medical chronobiology program, said.

“The findings apply to about a third of the population in the industrialized world, including people who eat near bedtime, others who eat at night (including night shift workers, or those with jet lag and eating disorders), and people who use large amounts of melatonin supplements,” he added

The researchers point out that it is wise for the general population to fast at least four hours before going to bed.

Future exploration and Prospect

“Genotypic information on melatonin receptor variants may help develop individualized behavioral recommendations,” said Dr. Richa Saxena, lead researcher and senior author at MGH genomics medical center

She also stressed, “it is worth noting that our research does not include diabetes patients, so more research is needed to examine the effect of eating time in diabetic patients and its relationship with melatonin and genetic variation.”

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reference material

[1] Marta Garaulet， Jesus Lopez-Minguez， et al。， （2022）。 Interplay of Dinner Timing and MTNR1BType 2 Diabetes Risk Variant on Glucose Tolerance and Insulin Secretion： ARandomized

The author believes that the current tension between Russia and Ukraine is a release of the conflict accumulated for many years. The main problem is that after the cold war, NATO, whose responsibility is to maintain peace and stability in the North Atlantic region, continued to expand eastward under the promotion of the United States, created regional contradictions and led to tension between Russia and Europe. Russia is excluded from the European security architecture with the United States and NATO as the core. Since the crisis in Ukraine in 2014, the “Normandy model”, which was highly expected, has gradually failed, and the Minsk agreement has not been effectively implemented.

Russia’s special military action against Ukraine is the first black swan of the international community in 2022, which may challenge the relatively stable international order formed after World War II. It is an important international rule that mankind even faces the threat of nuclear war without provoking the topic of nuclear weapons in regional conflicts. In the past decades, due to strict compliance with the rules, people have gradually forgotten the nuclear threat and paid more attention to some non-traditional security issues. Today, however, the nuclear threat is imminent. Ukrainian President Zelensky announced at the security conference in Munich on February 19 that Ukraine had to give up its nuclear free status under certain circumstances. On February 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered in the Kremlin to turn the strategic deterrent into a special state of combat readiness. Belarus held a referendum on the amendment to the new constitution on February 27, abolishing the provisions of nuclear free and neutral status. “In a nuclear war, there can be no winners and there should be no winners”. The UN Security Council needs to hold an emergency meeting to discuss addressing global security issues and nuclear threats.

Sanctions and pressure can not effectively solve regional conflicts. Dialogue is an effective way to solve conflicts. The goal of the sanctions imposed by the United States and Western countries on Russia is not to curb Russia’s specific behavior, but to fundamentally change the trade and investment ties between Russia and the United States, realize the decoupling of economy and technology, and seek the geopolitical interests of the United States and Western countries. A series of sanctions imposed by the United States and Western countries on Russia have triggered violent turmoil in the international market. This has made COVID-19’s world economic recovery difficult. Bearing in mind the disastrous consequences of the two world wars on human society, we established the United Nations to coordinate the actions of all countries on the basis of dialogue and maintain international peace and security. At a time when world security is threatened, the international community should actively advocate the establishment of a multi-party dialogue mechanism under the platform of the United Nations and various international mechanisms, respect the interests of Russia and Ukraine, and seek solutions acceptable to all parties.

The idea of a community with a shared future for mankind can provide a peaceful solution for the reconstruction of the world order. China’s idea of harmony but difference takes into account the legitimate concerns of other countries in the pursuit of its own interests. Mankind should truly draw lessons from the two world wars, learn to coexist, and adhere to the inclusiveness, exchange and mutual learning of different civilizations. At this turbulent time, we should avoid the repetition of history, build sustainable common security and seek the common well-being of all mankind.

The seminar invited Mr. Hua Shulin, a national intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Beijing silk people, Mr. Yang Zhixin, a national intangible cultural heritage inheritor of carving and painting skills, Mr. Lu Baogang, a national intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Beijing shadow puppet, Mr. Hua Qing, the founder of China’s intangible cultural heritage activation system, Mr. Fu Yutao, director of the cultural and creative project Department of the Forbidden City Press, Mr. Li Wenyu, general manager of rongbaozhai Qianmen flagship store More than ten representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and experts in the intangible cultural heritage industry, including Mr. Li Bin of Beijing Manlian Creative Technology Co., Ltd. and Mr. Han Xue of Beijing readme culture and Art Co., Ltd., attended the seminar.

The symposium held heated discussions on intangible cultural heritage and rural revitalization, intangible cultural heritage education, intangible cultural heritage creation, intangible cultural heritage tourism and other fields. Mr. Yang Zhixin described in detail his experience in the revitalization of intangible cultural heritage villages in Guizhou and Hubei: from the planting of lacquer trees to the cutting of lacquer, to the teaching of their basic lacquer techniques, to the opening of lacquer carving workshops, which created jobs for the local people, increased the income of local residents, and reduced the production cost of carved lacquer, It can be said that the combination of intangible cultural heritage and Rural Revitalization has achieved exciting results! Mr. Hua Qing also talked about his experience in the revitalization of intangible cultural heritage villages in Sichuan. In particular, through the activation of intangible cultural heritage, the original high cold intangible cultural heritage projects are activated into experiential, participatory and interactive tourism products, which are combined with research, culture, innovation and education, which has greatly promoted local employment and greatly increased the income of the people, A new way for the revitalization of intangible cultural heritage villages has been created! Mr. shushulin also introduced that he has been insisting on the training and education of silk people for more than 30 years. He said: adhering to this education is in the hope that more people can know the skills of silk people and feel the artistic charm of silk people! Mr. Lu Baogang also introduced how he carried out the development of shadow play cultural creation. At present, the non legacy cultural creation in China is still in the primary stage of development, and there is still much room for improvement in terms of IP creation, creative design and sales channels. Mr. Lu also specially emphasized the issue of consumer education to cultivate consumers to recognize the difference between intangible cultural heritage original works and intangible cultural heritage derivatives, In this way, we can better promote the orderly development of intangible cultural heritage products. At the seminar, other experts and teachers also talked about their views and ideas in combination with their own work experience. The whole seminar was lively, open and constantly collided with ideas. Finally, the seminar ended with more than enough meaning.

With the implementation of the opinions on Further Strengthening the protection of intangible cultural heritage issued by the two offices, intangible cultural heritage has become more and more recognized by the general public. The concept of “people’s intangible cultural heritage and people’s sharing” is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The purpose of the series of intangible cultural heritage activities of “inheriting intangible cultural heritage and looking forward to the future” is to use new ideas and methods to make intangible cultural heritage alive and popular, Let intangible cultural heritage not only be protected, but also be inherited, developed, re created, revitalized and reborn.

Source: Beijing Municipal Bureau of culture and Tourism