Time-restricted consuming alters gene expression all through the physique. On this illustration, the Ferris wheel exhibits the interconnected organ programs that perform easily in the course of the timed meal, represented by the clock within the heart. Photograph credit score: Salk Institute
Salk researchers discovered that the timing of caloric consumption in mice synchronizes circadian rhythms throughout a number of programs.
Quite a few research have proven the well being advantages of a time-restricted food regimen, together with lifespan extension in laboratory research. This has made practices like intermittent fasting a sizzling matter within the wellness trade. Nevertheless, precisely the way it impacts the physique on the molecular degree and the way these modifications work together throughout a number of organ programs is just not but properly understood. Now Salk scientists are utilizing mice to point out how time-limited consuming impacts gene expression in additional than 22 areas of the physique and mind. Gene expression is the method by which genes are activated and reply to their setting by creating proteins.
The outcomes, printed in mobile metabolism on January 3, 2023, are impacting quite a lot of well being circumstances the place time-restricted consuming has proven potential advantages, together with diabetes, coronary heart illness, hypertension and most cancers.
Satchidanananda panda. Photograph credit score: Salk Institute
“We discovered that time-restricted consuming has a system-wide, molecular affect in mice,” says Professor Satchidananda Panda, senior creator and holder of the Rita and Richard Atkinson Chair in Salk. “Our findings open the door to extra intently analyzing how this dietary intervention prompts genes implicated in sure ailments, akin to most cancers.”
For the research, two teams of mice had been fed the identical high-calorie food regimen. One group obtained free entry to meals. The opposite group was restricted to consuming inside a nine-hour feeding window every day. After seven weeks, tissue samples from 22 organ teams and the mind had been taken at completely different occasions of the day and night time and analyzed for genetic modifications. Samples included tissues from the liver, abdomen, lungs, coronary heart, adrenal gland, hypothalamus, varied components of the kidney and intestines, and varied areas of the mind.
The authors discovered that 70 p.c of mouse genes reply to momentary consuming.
“By altering the timing of meals consumption, we had been capable of alter gene expression not solely within the intestine or liver, but in addition in 1000’s of genes within the mind,” says Panda.
Nearly 40 p.c of the genes within the adrenal gland, hypothalamus and pancreas had been affected by time-restricted consuming. These organs are essential for hormone regulation. Hormones coordinate capabilities in numerous components of the physique and mind, and hormonal imbalance is implicated in lots of ailments from diabetes to emphasize problems. The findings provide clues as to how a time-restricted food regimen may also help handle these ailments.
Apparently, not all sections of the digestive tract had been equally affected. Whereas genes concerned within the higher two sections of the small gut — the duodenum and jejunum — had been activated by time-restricted consuming, the ileum, on the backside of the small gut, was not. This discovering might open a brand new avenue of analysis to check how shift-work jobs that disrupt our organic 24-hour clock (known as the circadian rhythm) have an effect on digestive ailments and most cancers. Earlier analysis by the Panda staff confirmed that time-restricted consuming improves the well being of firefighters, who usually work shifts.
The researchers additionally discovered that time-restricted consuming adjusted the circadian rhythms of a number of organs within the physique.
“Circadian rhythms are in all places in each cell,” says Panda. “We discovered that time-restricted consuming synchronized circadian rhythms to have two main waves: one throughout fasting and one other proper after consuming. We suspect that this enables the physique to coordinate completely different processes.”
Subsequent, Panda’s staff will take a more in-depth take a look at the consequences of time-restricted consuming on particular circumstances or programs concerned within the research, akin to persistent kidney illness.
Reference: “Diurnal Transcriptome Panorama of a Multi-Tissue Response to Time-Restricted Feeding in Mammalia” by Shaunak Deota, Terry Lin, Amandine Chaix, April Williams, Hiep Le, Hugo Calligaro, Ramesh Ramasamy, Ling Huang, and Satchidananda Panda, 3. January 2023, mobile metabolism.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.12.006
Different authors embody Shaunak Deota, Terry Lin, April Williams, Hiep Le, Hugo Calligaro, Ramesh Ramasamy, and Ling Huang von Salk; and Amandine Chaix of the College of Utah.
The analysis was supported by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (Grants CA258221, DK115214, CA014195, and AG065993) and the Wu Tsai Human Efficiency Alliance.
