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Intermittent Fasting Does Not Uniformly Impact Genes Involved in Circadian Regulation in Women with Obesity
Author(s) -
Zhao Lijun,
Hutchison Amy T.,
Wittert Gary A.,
Thompson Campbell H.,
Lange Kylie,
Liu Bo,
Heilbronn Leonie K.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.22775
Subject(s) - per2 , circadian rhythm , medicine , endocrinology , obesity , clock , intermittent fasting , adipose tissue , skeletal muscle , peripheral , circadian clock
Objective This study aimed to examine the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) on mRNA levels of peripheral clock genes in skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in women with obesity. Methods Women were randomized to one of two IF protocols and provided with all foods at 100% or 70% of calculated weekly energy requirements for 8 weeks. Breakfast was consumed before a 24‐hour fast, which was initiated on three nonconsecutive days per week. Muscle and SAT biopsies were performed at 8 am after an overnight fast at baseline and at week 8 on a refed day and again following a 24‐hour fast at week 8 for analysis of the mRNA levels of key genes involved in circadian regulation. Results A group‐by‐time interaction was observed in Per2 in muscle ( F = 3.497, P = 0.044) and SAT ( F = 6.686, P = 0.008), but significance was lost upon post hoc adjustment. A time effect was observed in Rorα in muscle, which was decreased by refeeding in both groups ( F = 7.225, P = 0.003). Conclusions There was no universal effect of IF to alter peripheral clocks, which may be partly because of the alignment of the fasting/feeding cycle with the biological clock. Optimizing intermittent fasting protocols could be important to prevent circadian misalignment in humans.