The right time for your medication

Medication will work better if it is taken at a specific time of day, scientists believe, after finding the effectiveness of thousands of drugs is linked to the body clock.

Although some drugs, such as statins and aspirin, are known to have more effect if taken in the morning or evening, it has been unclear why or if it was the same for all pills.

Now scientists at Pennsylvania University have worked out when genes in individual organs are most active.

They found that most liver and kidney activity happens after 6pm. Genes linked to the lungs peak at lunchtime, and the heart is most active in the morning.