Irregular Meal Times Disrupt Liver Metabolic Clock, Study Finds

Researchers from the University of Nantes, Nantes University Hospital and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research reported that irregular eating patterns, such as late‑night snacks or inconsistent meal times, can modify the liver's metabolic rhythm. The study observed changes in the activity of specific enzymes, notably the mitochondrial enzyme ACSF3, which in turn influences hepatic glucose regulation, lipid metabolism, and the autophagic recycling of cellular components. These findings were published in the peer‑reviewed journal Cell Reports.