An Unobvious Cause of Liver Dysfunction Discovered 0 14

Scientists from the University of Queensland have found that shift work and irregular eating can disrupt the daily biological rhythms of the liver — one of the key organs of metabolism. The study showed that when the liver's "internal clock" is thrown off, it can trigger processes associated with obesity, chronic inflammation, and metabolic disorders. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Metabolism.

The liver does not function uniformly throughout the day. It releases proteins into the blood strictly according to a daily schedule — in waves that regulate metabolism, energy levels, and inflammatory responses. When a person eats at the same time each day, this rhythm is maintained. However, with constant snacking, nighttime meals, or shift work, the liver's biological "clock" begins to desynchronize.

According to the researchers, this disruption is particularly dangerous because the liver struggles to perform its functions. It impairs the control of sugar and fat levels in the blood, intensifies inflammatory processes, increases the risk of weight gain, and the development of metabolic diseases. This is what scientists associate with the higher prevalence of obesity and related diseases among people who work at night or eat without a clear schedule.

The authors emphasize that it is not only about what we eat but also when we do it. Maintaining a stable eating schedule may be an important factor in protecting liver health and overall well-being, especially for people with irregular work schedules. In the future, scientists plan to study in more detail how restoring the liver's biological rhythms can help in the prevention of chronic diseases.