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Circadian Regulation of Metabolism: Commitment to Health and Diseases
How the Body’s Internal Clock Controls Metabolism and Its Link to Health and Disease
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Abstract
The circadian clock is a biological timekeeping system that regulates metabolic processes in response to external cues.
- The master pacemaker of circadian rhythms is located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which contains approximately 20,000 neurons.
- Circadian clock activity influences daily metabolic dynamics and is affected by metabolic and epigenetic factors.
- Disruptions to circadian rhythms, such as those caused by shift work or jet lag, may increase the risk of metabolic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
- Food intake acts as a significant external cue (zeitgeber) for regulating molecular clocks and metabolic pathways, independent of light exposure.
- The timing of food consumption, rather than its quantity or quality, may play a crucial role in promoting health and preventing disease through the restoration of circadian control.
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