Fatigue is becoming increasingly common within industrialised societies, signalling a pressing need for effective clinical and lifestyle interventions. It presents itself as diminished muscle endurance and strength, coupled with a pervasive feeling of exhaustion, frequently linked with disturbances in the circadian rhythm. Despite its extensive influence, the molecular foundations of fatigue are not yet fully comprehended. Recent research has revealed the molecular basis for the diurnal fluctuations in muscular endurance and highlighted circadian dietary interventions that alleviate muscle and cognitive impairments in rodent models. Time-restricted feeding has demonstrated considerable effectiveness in lessening fatigue through its impacts on both brain and muscle tissues. Consequently, circadian nutrition emerges as a promising lifestyle strategy for combating fatigue.
The circadian regulation of muscle fatigue and associated cognitive dysfunctions is vital. Time-restricted feeding (TRF) restricts daily food consumption to specific time windows, establishing an intermittent feeding-fasting cycle. Growing evidence shows that night/active phase-restricted feeding (NRF), similar to the 16:8 intermittent fasting regime in humans, synchronises the feeding-fasting cycle with the circadian clock, thus averting diet-induced metabolic disorders in mice. NRF enhances muscle endurance in mice fed an obesogenic diet across their lifespan in both genders. Mechanistically, NRF promotes increased metabolic flexibility. Conversely, day/sleep phase-restricted feeding (DRF), comparable to Ramadan fasting in humans, bolsters muscular endurance in lean mice throughout the entire day/night cycle. Recent findings show that TRF can restore muscle fibre strength in aged mice through the synchronised efforts of the brain and muscle clocks.
Clinical trials focusing on metabolic diseases have consistently identified circadian nutrition as a safe and feasible lifestyle intervention. A more profound grasp of the circadian biology of fatigue at the molecular level could solve the social and economic burdens of fatigue.
More information: Min-Dian Li et al, Circadian nutrition: is meal timing an elixir for fatigue? Science Bulletin. DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.11.043
Journal information: Science Bulletin Provided by Science China Press
