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Updated: Mar 12, 2026
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Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
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Circadian Rhythm and the Gut Microbiome
R M Voigt1, C B Forsyth1, S J Green2
1Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.
International Review of Neurobiology
|October 30, 2016
Summary
Circadian rhythms govern biological functions, and their disruption impacts health. Emerging research shows the gut microbiome also has circadian rhythms, influenced by diet, affecting host health.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Microbiome Research
- Host-Microbe Interactions
Background:
- Circadian rhythms are endogenous 24-hour cycles essential for optimizing organismal function and health.
- Disruption of these biological rhythms is linked to various diseases, including metabolic syndrome, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
- The intestinal microbiome, crucial for host health, is increasingly recognized as being regulated by circadian rhythms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the generation, maintenance, and disruption of host circadian rhythms.
- To explore the consequences of circadian rhythm disruption on host physiology.
- To highlight the emerging evidence on the importance of intestinal microbiota circadian rhythms.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing current research on circadian biology and the gut microbiome.
- Analysis of studies investigating the impact of diet and feeding times on microbial rhythms.
- Examination of the interplay between host and microbial circadian clocks.
Main Results:
- Host circadian rhythms are generated by intrinsic clocks and synchronized with environmental cues.
- Disrupted circadian rhythms negatively affect metabolic and immune functions.
- Gut microbial community structure and function exhibit distinct daily rhythms influenced by feeding patterns.
Conclusions:
- Circadian rhythms are fundamental to maintaining physiological homeostasis.
- Disruption of circadian rhythms, including those of the gut microbiome, has significant detrimental health implications.
- Understanding the circadian regulation of the gut microbiome is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
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