Effects of Diurnal Variation of Gut Microbes and High-Fat Feeding on Host Circadian Clock Function and Metabolism

Germ-free mice do not gain weight and show impaired circadian clock gene expression despite light-dark signals.

• The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining host circadian rhythms.
• Mice fed low or high-fat diets exhibit significant differences in circadian clock gene expression compared to conventionally raised mice.
• Diet composition affects the structure and function of gut microbiota, leading to varying microbial diurnal variation.
• Specific microbial metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids, may directly influence circadian clock gene expression in liver cells.
• These findings suggest that microbially derived metabolites could modify central and hepatic circadian rhythms and metabolic functions.

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