Circadian rhythm of muscles ‘could determine best times to exercise’

Circadian clocks have been discovered in muscle tissue, offering evidence that physical exercise could have more of an effect at some times of day than others.

The Northwestern University research examined mice and identified time-of-day differences in the ability of muscles to adapt to exercise and use oxygen for energy. Moreover, it was generally shown that muscle cells were more efficient during an organism's normal waking hours.

Mice are nocturnal, meaning their muscles are better at turning on genes to help them adapt to exercise at night; since humans share these same genes, it suggests that people may respond better to exercise during the daytime.

Senior author Dr Joseph Bass said: "We're not saying we can tell athletes when they should work out, but in the future, perhaps, you may be able to take advantage of these insights to optimise muscle function."

The research also indicates that modifying the circadian rhythms of muscle cells with medication or other methods could lead to new ways of manipulating the oxygen response of cells.

Optimising muscle function in this manner could also aid understanding of how to impact glucose metabolism in diabetes.

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