Disrupted Circadian Rhythms and Metabolic Function

doi:10.1017/9781009057646.011

10 - Disrupted Circadian Rhythms and Metabolic Function

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 October 2023

Deanna M. Arble

Edited by

Laura K. Fonken and

Randy J. Nelson

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Laura K. Fonken: Affiliation:
University of Texas, Austin
Randy J. Nelson: Affiliation:
West Virginia University

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Summary

Energy intake, utilization, and storage are critical to an animal’s health and fitness. The circadian clock organizes a variety of behavioral, physiological, and molecular processes to anticipate and optimize metabolic function. From behaviors such as the timing of feeding, to molecular interactions with the Clock gene, humans and other animals have evolved to coordinate metabolic processes to a 24-hour day. Thus, when circadian rhythms are disrupted or misaligned, an animal’s ability to anticipate and optimize metabolic processes is compromised. As discussed in this chapter, disruptions to circadian rhythmicity can result in adverse effects on body mass regulation and glucose homeostasis. Because these effects often present in parallel, this chapter organizes its discussion into two sections highlighting work from both clinical and preclinical animal studies. This approach allows one to appreciate the importance of circadian rhythmicity to metabolic wellbeing while introducing mechanistic explanations for how circadian disruption impacts body mass and glucose regulation.

Keywords

circadian metabolism shift work body mass glucose homeostasis

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Biological Implications of Circadian Disruption
A Modern Health Challenge
, pp. 223 - 237
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009057646.011 [Opens in a new window]
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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