Abstract:
Background. Ancient man relied on their circadian clock,
driven by natural light to regulate feeding behaviors. Modern
eating habits and artificial light have disrupted our
circadian rhythm which could lead to metabolic diseases.
Certain appetite and satiation hormones have varying levels
based on the circadian rhythm. Objective of the study.
To Investigate the optimal daily eating window based on
circadian rhythms for improved metabolic health and the
influence of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) on hunger
hormones. Material and methods. This article is based on
information gathered from many publications and literature
published since 2017 that are accessible on PubMed, PMC,
Google Scholar and NCBI. Result. Eating habits like time restricted
eating (TRE) and intermittent fasting with a feeding
window of 6-10 hours (8am - 6pm) and a fasting period of
14-18 hours aligns with the circadian rhythm and has been
shown to benefit weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity due to synchronization of peripheral hormone secretion
with the SCN. TRE has also been shown to lower triglyceride
and LDL cholesterol levels. It is recommended that food
intake begins at 8am after the cortisol peak, signaling the
beginning of the activity phase, and end at the ghrelin and
insulin peak around 6pm. Ghrelin levels increase across
the day while leptin has higher levels at night. Circadian
misalignment alters these hormones and therefore eating
behaviors which may lead to impaired glucose tolerance
and increased fat accumulation. Conclusion. This study
highlights the importance of circadian rhythm in regulating
appetite hormones and metabolic health. By synchronizing
mealtimes with hormonal fluctuations within an eating
period, TRE promotes optimal metabolic function and prevents
chronic metabolic disorders.
