簡單的說,當自然光照減少,也就是夜間睡覺時,人體會由鬆果體分泌褪黑激素,而這個夜間褪黑激素的增加對垂體和卵巢激素(包括雌二醇)的調節,甚至DNA修複以及某些anti-cancer pathway的活性都是很重要的。
幾年前就有人提出過Light-at-Night (LAN)理論:晚上睡覺時如果有燈光,會降低褪黑激素分泌。有很多不同角度的臨床研究表明,褪黑激素過低增加乳腺癌風險或腫瘤的惡性程度。比如說,上夜班的女性比不上的風險高 (當然,除了燈光,這個可能有其它因素),光照強度高增加乳腺癌發生率,全盲的女性比能感受到光的的盲人風險要低。
當然,這些研究裏的光照強度會比你通常用的夜間小燈強很多。但是既然有這個風險,還是黑著睡覺好!
參考文獻:
- Blask DE (2009). Melatonin, sleep disturbance and cancer risk. Sleep Med Rev, 13:257-264.
- Cos S, Sanchez-Barcelo EJ (2000). Melatonin and mammary pathological growth. Front Neuroendocrinol, 21:133-170.
- Flynn-Evans EE, Stevens RG, Tabandeh H, Schernhammer ES, Lockley SW (2009). Total visual blindness is protective against breast cancer. Cancer Causes Control, 20:1753-1756.
- Kloog I, Haim A, Stevens RG, Barchana M, Portnov BA (2008). Chronobiol Int, 25:65-81.
- Kolstad, H.A. (2008). Nightshift work and risk of breast cancer and other cancers: A critical review of the epidemiologic evidence. Scand J Work Environ Health, 34:5-22.
- Medgal SP, Kroenke CH, Laden F, Pukkala E, Schernhammer ES (2005). Night work and breast cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Cancer, 41:2023-2032.
- Stevens RG (2009). Working against our endogenous circadian clock: Breast cancer and electric lighting in the modern world. Mutat Res, 680:106-108.