NAIROBI, Kenya – Late-night cravings might be tempting, but a new study suggests they could have serious consequences for your health.
Researchers have discovered a potential link between eating within three hours of bedtime and an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, shedding light on a previously overlooked aspect of dietary habits.
The study, conducted by a team led by Edena Khoshaba, a medical student at Rush University Medical College in Chicago, involved 664 individuals undergoing colonoscopy screenings for cancer.
Of these participants, 42p.c reported being late eaters. Shockingly, late eaters were found to be 46p.c more likely than non-late eaters to have adenomas, small noncancerous lesions, discovered during the procedure.
While adenomas themselves are not cancerous, they carry the potential to become cancerous over time, with estimates suggesting that 5p.c to 10p.c of them may develop into cancer.
The risk varies based on factors such as their size and location within the gastrointestinal tract.
Interestingly, the study found that late eaters were 5.5 times more likely to have three or more tubular adenomas compared to their non-late eating counterparts, even after adjusting for dietary factors.
Tubular adenomas are the most common type of polyp found in the colon.
The potential connection between late-night eating and colorectal cancer risk lies in the disruption of the body’s internal clock or circadian rhythm.
While the central circadian center in the brain regulates functions such as sleep-wake cycles, late-night eating may interfere with the peripheral circadian rhythm, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract.
Amy Bragagnini, spokesperson for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, emphasized the impact of late-night eating on dietary choices and weight gain.
Many individuals tend to opt for foods high in added sugar and fat during late-night snacking, which can lead to excess calorie consumption and unwanted weight gain.
Furthermore, late-night eating may also affect the gut microbiome, the diverse community of microorganisms residing in the digestive tract.
Some of these organisms operate on their own internal clocks, and dietary choices, especially those high in sugar and fat, can influence their activity.
