Exercise is one of the essential elements for a healthy life. When do you exercise? Many people choose to exercise in the morning, afternoon, or evening according to their daily routines. But when is the best time to exercise? To answer this question, Professor Lily Chen’s team at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China conducted an interesting study. The results of this study have garnered much attention as they show that the time of exercise can affect height growth.
The Relationship Between Exercise Time and Height Growth
Background and Purpose of the Study
Recent studies have revealed various ways exercise promotes health, but the optimal time for exercise remains unclear. Professor Lily Chen’s team focused on the effect of exercise on height growth. To investigate this, the researchers exercised prepubescent mice at different times of the day and analyzed the results.
Methods and Results of the Experiment
The researchers exercised the mice on treadmills at a constant speed for five weeks, dividing the exercise times into morning, afternoon, and evening. The results showed that the femur length of mice that exercised in the morning grew about 5% longer than those that exercised at other times. Additionally, the mice that exercised in the morning showed faster growth in terms of bone thickness and volume.
These results were due to the active division of chondrocytes in the growth plates. The researchers found that the chondrocytes of the mice that exercised in the morning divided more actively, forming more chondrocytes compared to those that exercised at other times.
The Genetic Impact of Morning Exercise
Gene Analysis and Results
The researchers conducted gene analysis to gain a deeper understanding of these results. Analyzing the bone tissues of mice that exercised right after waking up, they found significant changes in the expression levels of many genes. In particular, the expression of genes related to bone growth and energy metabolism was notable.
One particularly noteworthy finding was that the oxidative phosphorylation process in mitochondria was prominent after morning exercise. This process is crucial for cellular energy production, indicating that the time of exercise affects this process.
Drug Experiment and Additional Results
Additionally, the researchers conducted an experiment using a drug called ‘AICA’ to enhance oxidative phosphorylation. When the drug was administered to non-exercising mice at different times, the mice that received it in the morning grew taller. This suggests that the time-dependent effects of exercise are mediated by enhanced oxidative phosphorylation.
Conclusion
This study suggests that similar effects could occur in humans. Although humans and mice have different daily patterns, the genes related to the biological clock are common, so future research may identify the optimal exercise time for humans as well. For those dreaming of a healthy life through exercise, try morning exercise! It might be an opportunity to improve both your health and height.