04/15/25 - #369

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Daytime Eating During Simulated Night Work Mitigates Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Secondary Analyses of a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Novo Nordisk's Next-gen Obesity Drug CagriSema Had Investors Excited. Now They're Not So Sure

• People Who Experienced Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Abuse During Childhood Have a Significantly Higher Risk of Developing Certain Chronic Immune Disorders Later in Life—specifically, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis. The Association Was Particularly Strong Among Women

• A New Study Suggests That Stress and Depression Factor Into the Relationship Between Insomnia and Hazardous Drinking. But Because the Relationship Between Poor Sleep and Heavy Drinking Goes in Both Directions, the Influence of Stress or Depression Depends on Which Condition Came First

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Daytime Eating During Simulated Night Work Mitigates Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Secondary Analyses of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Working night shifts can raise the risk of heart problems. A new study suggests that eating only during the day—even while staying awake all night—may help protect your heart.

Researchers simulated night shift work with 19 healthy adults. Half ate during both night and day (like most shift workers), while the others ate only during the day. The study tracked key heart health signs before and after the night shifts.

The group that ate at night showed a drop in heart rate balance, a rise in blood pressure, and a 23.9% increase in a clotting risk marker called PAI-1. These are all signs that raise the risk for heart disease. But in the group that ate only during the day, these changes did not occur.

Blood pressure even went down by up to 8% in the daytime-only eating group.

The study did not find major changes in cortisol (a stress hormone) or heart rate for either group. And the only difference between the groups was the timing of meals—not the amount or type of food.

This research shows that meal timing matters, especially for people working outside regular hours. Even without perfect sleep, eating only during daylight hours may help reduce the heart risks tied to working nights.

If you’re a night worker or often stay up late, keeping your meals in the daytime window could be a simple way to protect your heart. More research is needed, but this is a promising step.

Source: nature.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Novo Nordisk's Next-gen Obesity Drug CagriSema Had Investors Excited. Now They're Not So Sure

Novo Nordisk had high hopes for its new obesity drug, CagriSema. Early on, investors were excited. But now, that excitement has cooled.

CagriSema combines two ingredients: cagrilintide, a newer type of drug, and semaglutide, which is already used in popular weight-loss injections like Wegovy. The goal was to help people—especially those with type 2 diabetes—lose more weight than with current treatments.

In a recent trial, people with type 2 diabetes lost about 15.7% of their body weight after 68 weeks on CagriSema. While this sounds promising, it was less than what many expected. Another trial showed a 22.7% weight loss in people without diabetes—again, lower than hoped.

Because of this, Novo Nordisk’s stock dropped, and some investors are questioning whether CagriSema is better than existing drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound.

There are also concerns about side effects. Some patients didn’t reach the full dose because of stomach issues, though most symptoms were mild and improved over time.

Still, experts say more studies are coming. A major trial called REDEFINE-4 will finish in 2026 and could show better results with flexible dosing.

The market for weight-loss drugs is growing fast, and other companies, like Roche, are also developing new treatments. Novo Nordisk plans to seek approval for CagriSema in 2026.

For now, CagriSema has potential—but it hasn’t proven itself as the “next big thing” just yet. Investors and patients will have to wait and see.

Source: cnbc.com

HEALTH

People Who Experienced Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Abuse During Childhood Have a Significantly Higher Risk of Developing Certain Chronic Immune Disorders Later in Life—specifically, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis. The Association Was Particularly Strong Among Women

A new study finds that adults who faced abuse, neglect, or violence in childhood are more likely to get certain immune system diseases. This is especially true for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. This risk is even higher in women.

Researchers looked at the health records of over 250,000 people in the U.K. who had a history of childhood maltreatment. They compared these records to over 700,000 people with no such history. The study followed patients from 1995 to 2021.

The results showed that people with childhood trauma had a 39% higher chance of getting rheumatoid arthritis. They were also 16% more likely to develop psoriasis. Women with this history had a 54% higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. These diseases impact the immune system. They lead to long-lasting pain, swelling, and skin issues.

Experts think that early trauma may change how the body handles stress and fights illness. This may lead to more inflammation and a higher risk of disease. Unhealthy habits like smoking or weight gain may also increase the risk.

The study did not find strong links between childhood trauma and other immune diseases like multiple sclerosis or lupus. Strangely, people with a history of maltreatment were less likely to be diagnosed with celiac disease. Experts say this may be due to missed diagnoses or less access to care.

This study shows that early abuse can have lasting effects on the body, not just the mind. Helping children early could prevent serious health problems later in life.

Source: psypost.org

A New Study Suggests That Stress and Depression Factor Into the Relationship Between Insomnia and Hazardous Drinking. But Because the Relationship Between Poor Sleep and Heavy Drinking Goes in Both Directions, the Influence of Stress or Depression Depends on Which Condition Came First

A new study shows a strong link between poor sleep and heavy drinking. Many people who have trouble sleeping also drink too much. In fact, up to 91% of people with insomnia misuse alcohol.

Researchers found that stress and depression may help explain why these two problems often go together. But which one comes first matters. If insomnia happens first, stress may lead someone to drink. If drinking starts first, depression may lead to sleep problems.

The study looked at over 400 adults with poor sleep and heavy drinking. They answered questions about their sleep, alcohol use, stress, and depression. The results showed that stress and depression are connected, but they affect people in different ways.

Stress is when life feels overwhelming or out of control. Depression is when someone feels hopeless, sad, or empty. The researchers found that stress had a bigger role when sleep problems started first. Depression played a bigger role when drinking came first.

The study suggests that helping people manage stress might stop poor sleep from turning into a drinking problem. It also shows that treating depression might help people who drink too much sleep better.

Researchers are now testing an online program called SHUTi to help people sleep better. It has already helped reduce insomnia in heavy drinkers—even without focusing on their alcohol use.

This study could help doctors find better ways to treat both sleep and alcohol problems.

The results were published in the journal Alcohol.

Source: news.osu.edu

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.