Cell metabolismMar 5, 2020

How Daily Body Clocks Interact with the Gut Microbiome and Brain in Depression

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

The gut microbiota is essential for optimal regulation of host circadian pathways.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis involves a two-way communication between gut microorganisms and brain function.
Gut microbiota composition varies throughout the day and is influenced by the body's circadian rhythms.
Disruption of the cyclical interaction between gut microbes and the host can significantly affect disease pathology and severity.
Recent findings suggest a link between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and circadian rhythms regarding disease influence.
Further research is necessary to understand how these systems interact to affect disease severity and risk.

Simplified

The microbiota-gut-brain axis encompasses a bidirectional mode of communication between the microorganisms residing in our gut, and our brain function and behavior. The composition of the gut microbiota is subject to diurnal variation and is entrained by host circadian rhythms. In turn, a diverse microbiota is essential for optimal regulation of host circadian pathways. Disruption of the cyclical nature of this microbe-host interaction profoundly influences disease pathology and severity. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on this bidirectional relationship. Indeed, the past few years have revealed promising data regarding the relationship between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and circadian rhythms and how they act in concert to influence disease, but further research needs to be done to examine how they coalesce to modulate severity of, and risk for, certain diseases. Moreover, there is a need for a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the close relationship between circadian-microbiome-brain interactions.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

Funding

Competing interests

Declaration of Interests The authors are not aware of any affiliations, memberships, funding, or financial holdings that might be perceived as affecting the objectivity of this review. However, T.G.D. and J.F.C. have been invited speakers at meetings organized by Yakult, Alkermes, Ordesa, Servier, Lundbeck, Janssen, and AstraZeneca, and have received research funding from Mead Johnson, Cremo, Nutricia, Dupont, Pharmavite, and 4D Pharma. All other authors declare no competing interests.

PubMed

How Daily Body Clocks Interact with the Gut Microbiome and Brain in Depression

Abstract

Full Text

Funding

Competing interests

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Funding

Competing interests

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief