A new study has shed light on the effects of exercise on the body at different times of the day. The “Atlas of Movement Metabolism” was created by an international team of scientists led by Helmholtz Munich at the Karolinska Institute, who studied the biological processes that occur after exercise in mice. The atlas could help in the development of more effective exercise therapies for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, based on the circadian rhythm. The study focused on health-promoting signals that have a wide-ranging impact on human health, including sleep, physical performance, memory, and metabolism.
The circadian rhythm, a 24-hour schedule that regulates almost all biological processes in the body, is crucial for the effects of exercise. Previous research has shown that the health benefits of exercise can be optimized when it is tailored to the circadian rhythm of the individual. The sensitivity of tissues changes depending on the time of day, which is why understanding the effects of exercise at different times is important. To better understand the impact of the circadian rhythm, the researchers conducted experiments on mice, collecting blood and tissue samples from the brain, heart, muscle, liver, and fat after the animals exercised in the morning or evening.
The data collected from the experiments led to the creation of the “Atlas of Movement Metabolism,” which shows which signal molecules are present in different tissues after physical activity at different times of the day. This is the first study to describe metabolism in relation to exercise and time of day across multiple tissues. The results could lead to new studies that explore the optimal timing of physical activity for therapies and disease prevention. The study’s findings could benefit people with an increased risk of diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
