Time-restricted feeding improves adaptation to chronically alternating light-dark cycles

Maaike Schilperoort,Tom Deboer,Sander Kooijman,Paul Wackers,Linda W M Van Kerkhof,Lauren L Tambyrajah,Patrick C N Rensen,Gerben Hulsegge,Nienke R Biermasz,Till Roenneberg,Karina Wagner,Karin I Proper,Rosa Van Den Berg,Conny T M Van Oostrom,Harry Van Steeg,Martijn E T Dollé

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-44398-7

Abstract

Disturbance of the circadian clock has been associated with increased risk of cardio-metabolic disorders. Previous studies showed that optimal timing of food intake can improve metabolic health. We hypothesized that time-restricted feeding could be a strategy to minimize long term adverse metabolic health effects of shift work and jetlag. In this study, we exposed female FVB mice to weekly alternating light-dark cycles (i.e. 12 h shifts) combined with ad libitum feeding, dark phase feeding or feeding at a fixed clock time, in the original dark phase. In contrast to our expectations, long-term disturbance of the circadian clock had only modest effects on metabolic parameters. Mice fed at a fixed time showed a delayed adaptation compared to ad libitum fed animals, in terms of the similarity in 24 h rhythm of core body temperature, in weeks when food was only available in the light phase. This was accompanied by increased plasma triglyceride levels and decreased energy expenditure, indicating a less favorable metabolic state. On the other hand, dark phase feeding accelerated adaptation of core body temperature and activity rhythms, however, did not improve the metabolic state of animals compared to ad libitum feeding. Taken together, restricting food intake to the active dark phase enhanced adaptation to shifts in the light-dark schedule, without significantly affecting metabolic parameters.

Highlights

Within the past decade, animal studies and epidemiologic studies have associated chronic circadian rhythm disturbance, as occurs in shift work and jetlag, with sleep problems and increased risk of cardio-metabolic disorders[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
To investigate if time-restricted feeding can aid in adaptation to shifts in light-dark cycle, we utilized the rhythm in core body temperature as a proxy for circadian behavior (Fig. 2)
Adaptation to the new light-dark schedule occurred around day 2 after the shift in the jetlag dark phase (DP) group (Fig. 2B), which is faster compared to the jetlag ad libitum (AL) group

Summary

Introduction

Animal studies and epidemiologic studies have associated chronic circadian rhythm disturbance, as occurs in shift work and jetlag, with sleep problems and increased risk of cardio-metabolic disorders[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. As a consequence, increasing numbers of workers are involved in atypical working schedules. Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam, UMC, The Netherlands. Previous studies mainly investigated relatively short-term effects, whereas the precise role of food timing during chronic disturbance of circadian rhythms remains unclear. We studied the effect of food timing on predicted sleep duration in mice, as sleep might be an important intermediate factor in the effects of circadian disturbance on metabolic health

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Conclusion