Meal timing affects liver metabolism and nutrient processing

Research published in the journal Cell Reports suggests that the timing of food intake significantly influences how the liver processes, stores, and utilizes nutrients. According to researcher Daniel Mauvoisin from the University of Nantes, the liver follows daily cycles to regulate energy use, driven by both the cellular circadian clock and the specific time meals are consumed.

The study focused on a mitochondrial enzyme called ACSF3. In mouse models, researchers observed that ACSF3 levels fluctuated based on the time of day and responded to feeding schedules. Altering the feeding time changed the rhythm of ACSF3 and a metabolic chemical process known as lysine malonylation.

When the enzyme was reduced specifically in the liver, scientists observed changes in fat burning, increased lipid production, and altered hepatic lipid rhythms, alongside modifications to glucose and insulin signaling. While these findings suggest the enzyme acts as a link between meal timing and hepatic metabolism, researchers cautioned that because the experiments were conducted on mice, the mechanism may not automatically apply to humans.