2011年2月24日 星期四

Melatonin production falls if the lights are on 亮燈會減少製造褪黑激素

《中英對照讀新聞》Melatonin production falls if the lights are on 亮燈會減少製造褪黑激素

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Melatonin production falls if the lights are on

亮燈會減少製造褪黑激素

Having the lights on before bedtime could result in a worse night’s sleep, according to a study to be published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. The research shows that the body produces less of the sleep hormone melatonin when exposed to light.

根據刊登在內分泌與代謝期刊的研究,睡前開燈可能導致睡得不好。這份研究顯示,身體暴露在燈光下時,身體製造的睡眠荷爾蒙褪黑激素較少。

Sleep patterns have been linked to some types of cancer, blood pressure and diabetes. The US researchers also found lower melatonin levels in shift workers. The pinal gland produces melatonin through the night and starts when darkness falls.

睡眠模式與部分癌症、高血壓與糖尿病相關。這些美國研究人員也發現,輪班工作者的褪黑激素量較低。松果體在晚間製造褪黑激素,並從夜幕低垂時開始。

Researchers have shown that switching on lights in the home switches off the hormone’s production. In the study, 116 people spent five days in room where the amount of light and sleep was controlled. They were awake for 16 hours and asleep for eight hours each day. Initially the patients were exposed to 16 hours of room light during their waking hours. They were then moved onto eight hours of room light in the morning and eight hours of dim light in the evening.

研究人員顯示,在家裡開燈,會關掉這種荷爾蒙的製造。在這份研究中,116人有5天待在燈光與睡眠被控制的房間內,他們每天清醒16小時,睡8小時。最初這些病患清醒時,暴露在16小時的房間燈光下,接著早上8小時待在房間燈光下,晚間在昏暗的燈光下待8小時。

The researchers found that electrical light between dusk and bedtime strongly suppressed melatonin levels. With dim light, melatonin was produced for 90 minutes more a day.

研究人員發現,在黃昏與睡覺之間開燈,會強烈壓縮褪黑激素量;在昏暗的燈光下,褪黑激素一天多製造90分鐘。

新聞辭典

shift:名詞,輪班。例句:Are you on the night shift or the day shift(= Do you work during the night period or the day period)?(你是上夜班還是日班?)

switch on/off:片語,開啟/關閉。例句:switch the TV off/on (把電視關起來/打開)

supress:動詞,壓抑。例句:She couldn’t suppress her anger/delight.(她沒辦法壓抑怒氣/喜悅。)

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