Enric Canela
Enric Canela, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Barcelona and collaborator of the Royal European Academy of Doctors (READ), shares with the academic community his latest article published on his blog, enriccanela.cat, an outreach space dedicated to health and well-being, together with his most recent contributions to the newspaper “El Punt-Avui”, where he focuses on education and research, and to the news portal El Matí Digital. These include the entries “Viure amb el sol”, “L’edat del cor”, “El risc de la melatonina”, and the article “Incapaços de créixer”, published between 26 October and 30 November.
In “Viure amb el sol”, the expert addresses the debate surrounding the seasonal time change carried out at the summer and winter solstices, siding with those who advocate abolishing the practice of moving the clock forward or backward. “Most of us in the European Union believe that shifting time twice a year is a disruption that alters physiological rhythms for an administrative decision that makes no sense. It is evident that time changes are harmful to health. Some people are less affected because, without work or social obligations, they gradually adjust their meal times, sleep schedules or wake-up times. Those who suffer the most are children, and also—due to the change in the household rhythm—dogs and cats,” he reflects.
In “L’edat del cor”, Canela considers the use of statins to combat high cholesterol levels and the alternative of diagnostic tools that offer more precise data on cardiovascular health and allow for more accurate assessments. “The most precise marker to estimate real vascular age is the CAC Score, which measures the amount of calcium (Agatston units) in the coronary arteries. It reflects actual disease, not theoretical risk, indicating the age a person would have if they had the same atherosclerotic burden. Only a non-contrast cardiac CT scan synchronised with an ECG is required. CAC is particularly useful in intermediate-risk patients because it helps decide whether medication should be intensified or avoided, preventing overtreatment in those with theoretically high risk but minimal actual disease. However, CAC does not completely replace risk assessment; it is an additional tool that physicians should always consider,” he explains.
In “El risc de la melatonina”, he focuses on the controversial use of another substance—often without medical supervision—to help induce sleep. “Hormones should only be taken with a prescription and under strict medical supervision. Doctors may prescribe corticosteroids, oestrogens, testosterone or thyroxine. These are not micronutrients, although animal-based foods contain small quantities—the hormones naturally found in the animal. Supplementing with most hormones carries a potential risk. Surprisingly, misuse of one hormone—melatonin—has become widespread. Melatonin is known to be a hormone and antioxidant that, in the brain, regulates circadian cycles. Although it does not induce sleep, it is linked to the sleep–wake cycle and is secreted by the pineal gland when the retina stops receiving sunlight, especially blue-spectrum light,” he notes.
Finally, in “Incapaços de créixer”, he urges the Catalan administration to promote the consolidation and growth of innovation. “Catalonia can build a globally competitive ecosystem without losing its identity if the government fosters alliances among local companies, coordinated international promotion, export support, and the development of patents and R&D with universities and technology centres, strengthening coordination between public policy and private initiative. To improve competitiveness, programmes for leadership transition, accelerators and scaling-up centres for SMEs, innovative public procurement, and tax and financial incentives for reindustrialisation and digitalisation are needed, as well as sectoral export consortia that pool capacities and allow competition with critical mass,” he argues.
