Doctors from Canadian universities in Montreal have conducted a study to explore the possibility of resetting circadian rhythms – sleep cycles – with the aim of adjusting to atypical work schedules and other sleep disruptions to prevent related health problems.

Featured in The FASEB Journal – published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology – doctors from the Douglas Mental Health university Institute and McGill University collaborated for the study. It is based on the idea that physiological changes over the course of a day are regulated by a system comprised of a central clock located deep within the centre of the brain, in addition to multiple clocks in different parts of the body.

A total of 16 healthy volunteers were studied in time-based isolation chambers. The researchers found that peripheral body clocks located in white blood cells can be synchronised through the administration of glucocorticoid tablets.

“Our previous studies clearly show that desynchronised circadian clocks disrupt the sleep, performance and cardiac parameters of night-shift workers,” said Dr Diane B Boivin. “However current approaches to these problems have significant limitations as one single therapy can’t address the disruptions that occur in all biological clocks. For example, when used incorrectly, light therapy can even aggravate the situation.”

While the study focused on night-shift workers, these results and any future developments could have a deep impact on the spa industry and its role in restoring balance to consumers’ busy and sleep-deprived lives.

The researchers admit they do not have all the answers yet, it is believed that all the biological clocks essentially depend on the central clock.

“Animal studies have shown that our central clock, in the brain, sends signals to the clocks in our other organs,” said co-researcher Dr Marc Cuesta. “Glucocorticoid tablets appear to play a central role in transmitting these signals. However, until now, no one had demonstrated that cortisol – a glucocorticoid – plays this role in humans. We studied the rhythmic expression of clock genes in white blood cells to see how they adjusted in response to glucocorticoids. These cells are involved in our body’s reaction to attacks from many pathogens. This study therefore suggests that biological rhythms may play a role in controlling immune function in night-shift workers.”

Boivin added: “At this stage, we are not recommending the use of glucocorticoids to adjust the rhythms of night-shift workers, as there could be medical risks.”

“However, these results lead us to believe that we may one day be able to use a combined therapy that targets the central clock with a pharmacological treatment that targets the peripheral clocks to ensure that all clocks are adjusted.”