Chrono-nutrition

Abstract

In mammals, the circadian rhythms have been shown to regulate several physiological functions, including body temperature, sleep-wake behavior, physical activity, hormonal secretions, and metabolism. These processes are controlled by circadian clock genes, and abnormal circadian rhythms are associated with the development of obesity, diabetes, and lifestyle-related diseases. In addition, the timing of behaviors such as food intake, exercise, and stress influence circadian rhythms, including clock gene expression in peripheral tissues. Therefore, the interaction between nutrition and the circadian clock is so-called “chrono-nutrition” is poised to become an important research field of chronobiology. In this review, we review the effects of a timed-nutrition on circadian clocks and their timing-dependent effects on physiological functions.