Effects of exercise on circadian rhythms in humans

Bingyi Shen; Changxiao Ma; Guanlin Wu; Haibin Liu; Lihong Chen; Guangrui Yang

doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1282357

Effects of exercise on circadian rhythms in humans

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Oct 11:14:1282357. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1282357. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Bingyi Shen¹, Changxiao Ma¹, Guanlin Wu², Haibin Liu³, Lihong Chen⁴, Guangrui Yang²

Affiliations

¹ School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
² School of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, China.
³ School of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
⁴ Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

The biological clock system is an intrinsic timekeeping device that integrates internal physiology and external cues. Maintaining a healthy biological clock system is crucial for life. Disruptions to the body's internal clock can lead to disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle and abnormalities in hormone regulation, blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital processes. Long-term disturbances have been linked to the development of various common major diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, tumors, neuropsychiatric conditions, and so on. External factors, such as the diurnal rhythm of light, have a significant impact on the body's internal clock. Additionally, as an important non-photic zeitgeber, exercise can regulate the body's internal rhythms to a certain extent, making it possible to become a non-drug intervention for preventing and treating circadian rhythm disorders. This comprehensive review encompasses behavioral, physiological, and molecular perspectives to provide a deeper understanding of how exercise influences circadian rhythms and its association with related diseases.

Keywords: biological clock; circadian rhythm; exercise; health; non-photic zeitgeber.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the grants from National Key Research and Development Program of China (#2019YFA0802400) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171165).