| Missing
a good night's sleep could increase your risk for ulcers. Medical
scientists in Britain found an ulcer-fighting protein pro-duced
by the stomach and small intestine is most prevalent at night and
suppressed after a meal. High levels of this chemical, TFF2, are
found around breaches in the gut lining, such as those caused by
ulcers. Investigators believe this protein triggers the repair of
tissue damage. The physicians studied 12 healthy non-smokers, ages
20 to 24, for 24 hours. The volunteers all ate early or mid-afternoon,
went to bed at 11:30 p.m., and were asleep by 1 a.m. Samples of
their digestive juices were collected every two hours during the
study. TFF2 levels were highest after 1 a.m., peaking at 5 a.m.
The levels of the healing protein were lowest during the afternoon
and after meals. The researchers conclude that inactivity or sleep
is when TFF2 secretion is most active. They reported their findings
in the journal Gut. |
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