A timed liver signal may boost fat breakdown, pointing to potential metabolic treatments
What if one of the keys to a healthier metabolism is understanding how and when the liver communicates with the rest of the body?
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio have discovered the liver's internal clock coordinates the release of proteins that help regulate metabolism. These proteins are released in a precise daily schedule, allowing the liver to communicate with organs like fat tissue at specific times of day. This finding, published in Nature Communications, could guide future metabolic disease research and inform the timing of meals and medication.
The liver's molecular clock is a key factor in coordinating daily physiological processes, and disruptions in this timing, such as irregular eating patterns and sleep schedules, can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders. The study identified a liver protein called endostatin that promotes fat breakdown most effectively when released according to its natural daily schedule, suggesting that timing may influence metabolic signaling and treatment efficacy.
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