La cafeína puede ayudar a regularizar el sueño

La cafeína quita el sueño y quizá por eso es la droga más consumida en el mundo. Se sabe que produce ese efecto porque libera sustancias químicas en el cerebro que nos mantienen despiertos y bloquean otras que inducen el sueño. Pero esa no es la única vía. Ahora, un grupo de investigadores de la Universidad de Colorado en Boulder (EE UU) ha tratado de explicar cómo funciona el mecanismo en los humanos a través de su influencia sobre el reloj circadiano.

Este reloj interno de los humanos hace una función similar a la de los departamentos de logística de las grandes empresas. A través de un mecanismo bioquímico que sintoniza el organismo con los ciclos del día y la noche, este reloj interno logra que el cuerpo sepa cuándo conviene que esté listo para dormir, comer o para realizar el esfuerzo del trabajo diurno.

El mecanismo se reajusta ante la influencia de señales externas. La exposición a una luz brillante a la hora de irse a la cama, por ejemplo, retrasa el tiempo circadiano y nos desvela. Este efecto es el que se ha observado, por ejemplo, con el uso de algunos dispositivos electrónicos. Con la cafeína se ha visto un efecto similar en modelos animales, como algunos tipos de alga o las moscas de la fruta.(Ver más)

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