Chronobiology of Exercise: Evaluating the Best Time to Exercise for Greater Cardiovascular and Metabolic Benefits

Author(s)

Brito, Leandro C. ; Marin, Thais C. ; Azevedo, Luan ; Rosa-Silva, Julia M. ; Shea, Steven A. ; Thosar, Saurabh S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: COMPREHENSIVE PHYSIOLOGY; v. 12, n. 3, p. 19-pg., 2022-07-01.

Abstract

Physiological function fluctuates across 24 h due to ongoing daily patterns of behaviors and envi-ronmental changes, including the sleep/wake, rest/activity, light/dark, and daily temperature cycles. The internal circadian system prepares the body for these anticipated behavioral and envi-ronmental changes, helping to orchestrate optimal cardiovascular and metabolic responses to these daily changes. In addition, circadian disruption, caused principally by exposure to artificial light at night (e.g., as occurs with night-shift work), increases the risk for both cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity and mortality. Regular exercise is a countermeasure against cardiovascular and metabolic risk, and recent findings suggest that the cardiovascular benefits on blood pressure and autonomic control are greater with evening exercise compared to morning exercise. Moreover, exercise can also reset the timing of the circadian system, which raises the possibility that appropri-ate timing of exercise could be used to counteract circadian disruption. This article introduces the overall functional relevance of the human circadian system and presents the evidence surrounding the concepts that the time of day that exercise is performed can modulate the cardiovascular and metabolic benefits. Further work is needed to establish exercise as a tool to appropriately reset the circadian system following circadian misalignment to preserve cardiovascular and metabolic health.(c) 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:3621-3639, 2022. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/11588-2 - Bright light influence on vasodilation induced by dynamic handgrip exercise
• Grantee: Julia Maria Rosa da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 18/05226-0 - Influence of time of day in which aerobic training is performed on training-induced autonomic and vascular adaptations in hypertensive elderly
• Grantee: Leandro Campos de Brito
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral