Dr. Oren Froy and his colleagues studied a particular circadian rhythm - the activity of the "adiponectin signaling pathway" - which is involved in metabolism, including glucose regulation and oxidation of fatty acids. Mice were fed either a low-fat or high-fat diet, followed by a day of fasting, before measuring hormones associated with the adiponectin signalling pathway.

The researchers found that fasting resulted in a "phase delay" in the circadian rhythm, while a high fat diet caused a "phase advance" in the circadian rhythm.

The disturbance of circadian rhythms can lead to such phenomena as hormone imbalance, obesity, psychological and sleep disorders and cancer.

In an article soon to be published by the journal Endocrinology, the researchers suggest that this high-fat diet could contribute to obesity, not only through its high caloric content, but also by disrupting the phases and daily rhythm of clock genes. They contend also that high fat-induced changes in the clock and the adiponectin signaling pathway may help explain the disruption of other clock-controlled systems associated with metabolic disorders, such as blood pressure levels and the sleep/wake cycle.

Source: Adapted from materials provided by EurekAlert (Press Release)