Caffeine alters circadian rhythms and expression of disease and metabolic markers

Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2011 May;43(5):829-38. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2011.02.008. Epub 2011 Feb 23.

Abstract

The circadian clock regulates many aspects of physiology, energy metabolism, and sleep. Restricted feeding (RF), a regimen that restricts the duration of food availability entrains the circadian clock. Caffeine has been shown to affect both metabolism and sleep. However, its effect on clock gene and clock-controlled gene expression has not been studied. Here, we tested the effect of caffeine on circadian rhythms and the expression of disease and metabolic markers in the serum, liver, and jejunum of mice supplemented with caffeine under ad libitum (AL) feeding or RF for 16 weeks. Caffeine significantly affected circadian oscillation and the daily levels of disease and metabolic markers. Under AL, caffeine reduced the average daily mRNA levels of certain disease and inflammatory markers, such as liver alpha fetoprotein (Afp), C-reactive protein (Crp), jejunum alanine aminotransferase (Alt), growth arrest and DNA damage 45β (Gadd45β), Interleukin 1α (Il-1α), Il-1β mRNA and serum plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). Under RF, caffeine reduced the average daily levels of Alt, Gadd45β, Il-1α and Il-1β mRNA in the jejunum, but not in the liver. In addition, caffeine supplementation led to decreased expression of catabolic factors under RF. In conclusion, caffeine affects circadian gene expression and metabolism possibly leading to beneficial effects mainly under AL feeding.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Body Weight / physiology
  • Caffeine / pharmacology*
  • Caloric Restriction
  • Circadian Rhythm / drug effects*
  • Circadian Rhythm / genetics
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • Disease* / genetics
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Eating / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / physiology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Caffeine