Chronobiology: Influences on Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk

Circadian rhythmicity has been widely studied in the cardiovascular system and has a relevant role in three different areas: heart, vascular smooth muscle, and hemostatic capacity of blood. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and chronodisruption are also highly interconnected. Epidemiologic studies show that shift workers and short sleepers develop obesity and MetS impairments more frequently. In addition, studies performed in experimental models suggest that the circadian clock genes network plays an important role in mammalian energy balance and demonstrate the implication of the clock genes machinery in MetS. New nutrigenomic studies indicate that genetic variants of the CLOCK gene are highly associated with cardiovascular risk and MetS features. The timing of antihypertensive therapies should be also considered to achieve a nocturnal dip in the pattern of blood pressure. Chronotherapy could also be used in MetS treatment, as the appropriate resetting of the circadian system (ie, chronoenhancement) may lead to a reduced incidence of obesity and MetS.