Circadian-Induced Changes in Intestinal Microbiota. mouse gut metagenome

Intestinal dysbiosis and circadian rhythm disruption are associated with similar diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. Despite the overlap, the potential relationship between circadian disorganization and dysbiosis is unknown; thus, in the present study, a model of chronic circadian disruption was used to determine the impact on the intestinal microbiome. Weekly phase reversals of the light:dark (LD) cycle did not alter the stool microbiome in mice fed a standard chow diet; however, mice fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet in conjunction with phase shifts in the LD cycle had significantly altered microbiota. While it is yet to be established if some of the adverse effects associated with circadian disorganization (e.g., shift workers, travelers moving across time zones, and in individuals with social jet lag) are mediated by dysbiosis, the current study demonstrates that circadian disorganization can impact the intestinal microbiota which may have implications for pro-inflammatory diseases.