Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42332254›Full record

ArticleNpj biological timing and sleep2026

The importance of meal timing for maintenance of daily rhythms in the gut transcriptome and microbiota.

Felicity K Hunter, Polly Downton, Andrea Luengas-Martinez, Suzanna H Dickson, Jafar Cain, Kathryn J Else, Matthew R Hepworth, Julie E Gibbs

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Npj biological timing and sleep, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Felicity K HunterCentre for Biological Timing, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Polly DowntonCentre for Biological Timing, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Andrea Luengas-MartinezCentre for Biological Timing, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Suzanna H DicksonCentre for Biological Timing, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Jafar CainCentre for Biological Timing, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Kathryn J ElseCentre for Biological Timing, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Matthew R HepworthCentre for Biological Timing, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Julie E GibbsCentre for Biological Timing, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. julie.gibbs@manchester.ac.uk.

Funding

Versus Arthritis 22625Wellcome Trust 105644/Z/14/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Gut function exhibits 24 h (circadian) rhythmicity, in part driven by intrinsic clocks within intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). The gut microbiome also demonstrates circadian rhythms in composition and function, important for maintenance of metabolic, immune and gut health. Here, we determined the influence of feeding behaviour on the 24 h colonic landscape using an interval feeding paradigm, whereby food intake was partitioned equally across the 24 h day. RNAseq analysis revealed that the IEC intrinsic clock persists in the absence of diurnal feeding rhythms; however, a subset of key transcripts loses rhythmicity, demonstrating that cell extrinsic temporal cues contribute significantly to the maintenance of the rhythmic gut transcriptome. Furthermore, interval-fed mice demonstrated a striking loss of rhythms in secretory IgA, a critical regulator of the temporal landscape of the gut microbiome. In keeping, rhythmicity within the microbiota and microbial-derived short chain fatty acids was significantly diminished. This work highlights the importance of daily rhythms in feeding behaviour for the maintenance of rhythmic processes within the gut, with implications for metabolic and immune health.

Identifiers

PMID42332254
PMCPMC13287471

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.