Body clock and gut bacteria work together to time metabolism after eating

The gut microbiome and the molecular circadian clock may work together to enhance metabolic responses to environmental challenges.

• The gut microbiome helps the host by breaking down nutrients that the host cannot digest and producing metabolites that aid in metabolism.
• Cellular circadian clocks adjust an organism's physiology in response to environmental factors by regulating the timing of metabolic processes.
• Host-microbe interactions are affected by the quality and timing of diet, as well as light/dark cycles that regulate circadian rhythms.
• These systems may jointly influence neural processing, metabolism, fat formation, inflammation, and the development of diseases.
• The review discusses how these interactions relate to obesity and energy balance, and suggests future research directions and potential therapies.

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