Daytime-Only Feeding May Disrupt Body Clocks and Metabolism by Changing Bile Acids and Gut Bacteria in Male Mice

Daytime feeding in mice resulted in significant alterations in liver gene expression and gut microbiota composition.

• Hepatic rhythmic expressions of key clock genes and lipid metabolism genes were disrupted by daytime feeding.
• Daytime feeding led to an increase in levels of primary, secondary, and unconjugated bile acids at ZT0, but decreased them at ZT12.
• The diversity of gut microbiota was altered, showing an increase in Firmicutes and a decrease in Verrucomicrobia.
• Fluctuations in specific gut bacteria, including Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Parabacteroides, were observed under daytime feeding conditions.
• Shifting food intake to the rest phase is associated with desynchronization between circadian rhythms and metabolic processes in the liver.

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