A clock made of healthy foods being disrupted by inflammation.

Unlock Your Body's Natural Rhythms: How Inflammation Impacts Your Internal Clock

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Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 5 min read.

"New research reveals the surprising link between inflammation, your circadian rhythm, and overall well-being – and what you can do to restore balance."


Imagine your body as a finely tuned orchestra, where every instrument plays in perfect harmony to create a beautiful symphony of health. This is your circadian rhythm – the internal clock that governs sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, and countless other bodily functions. But what happens when a rogue element throws the whole system out of sync? Inflammation, it turns out, can be that disruptive force.

Scientists have long known that inflammation and circadian rhythms are intertwined, but the precise mechanisms have remained murky. Now, groundbreaking research is shedding light on how inflammation, specifically through the activation of a protein called NF-kB, can wreak havoc on your body's internal clock.

This article will explore these new findings, translating complex scientific jargon into clear, actionable insights. You'll discover how NF-kB activation in response to inflammatory triggers can inhibit key clock repressors, disrupt gene cycles, and ultimately impair rhythmic behavior. More importantly, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how to protect your circadian rhythm and overall well-being in the face of inflammatory challenges.

The Inflammation-Circadian Rhythm Connection: What the Science Says

A clock made of healthy foods being disrupted by inflammation.

The recent study, published in Genes & Development, investigated the role of NF-kB in maintaining molecular and behavioral circadian rhythms in mice. Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that activating NF-kB, often triggered by inflammatory stimuli like infections or high-fat diets, significantly interferes with the normal functioning of the circadian clock.

Here's a breakdown of the key findings:

  • NF-kB Inhibits Clock Repressors: When NF-kB is activated, it suppresses the production of proteins that normally keep the clock in check (Period, Cryptochrome, and Rev-erb genes). Think of these proteins as the brakes on a speeding car; without them, the clock runs wild.
  • CLOCK/BMAL1 Relocalization: Inflammation causes a shift in the location where CLOCK/BMAL1 (key components of the body's central clock) bind to DNA. This change disrupts the normal regulation of genes that control circadian rhythms. It is as if the conductor of the orchestra has been moved to the wrong spot.
  • Impact on Clock-Controlled Genes: By disrupting NF-kB, the researchers found that key genes that are usually under the tight control of the circadian clock became deregulated. This can affect everything from metabolism to immune function.
  • Behavioral Changes: Mice with disrupted NF-kB signaling showed impaired rhythmic activity behavior. This includes changes in activity levels, sleep patterns and overall daily routines, pointing to NF-kB's vital role in circadian functions.
These findings suggest that NF-kB acts as a crucial link between inflammation and circadian disruption. By understanding this connection, we can begin to develop strategies to protect our internal clocks from the damaging effects of chronic inflammation.

Reclaiming Your Rhythms: Practical Steps for a Healthier Internal Clock

So, what can you do to safeguard your circadian rhythm in a world filled with inflammatory triggers? While the research focused on mice, the underlying principles offer valuable insights for human health.

Here are some actionable steps you can take:

<ul> <li><b>Prioritize an Anti-Inflammatory Diet:</b> Focus on whole, unprocessed foods rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Limit processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive amounts of red meat. </li> <li><b>Manage Stress:</b> Chronic stress can fuel inflammation. Practice relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature.</li> <li><b>Optimize Sleep:</b> Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Create a consistent sleep schedule and a relaxing bedtime routine.</li> <li><b>Regular Exercise:</b> Physical activity can help reduce inflammation and improve circadian rhythm function. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.</li> <li><b>Consider Targeted Supplements:</b> Some supplements, like omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin, have anti-inflammatory properties. Consult with a healthcare professional to see if they're right for you.</li> </ul>

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

1

What exactly is NF-kB, and how does it interfere with my body's clock?

NF-kB is a protein that plays a key role in the body's immune response. Research indicates that when NF-kB is activated, often due to inflammatory stimuli, it can disrupt the normal functioning of the circadian clock. Specifically, it inhibits clock repressors like Period, Cryptochrome and Rev-erb genes, affects the location where CLOCK/BMAL1 binds to DNA, and deregulates key genes controlled by the circadian clock, ultimately impairing rhythmic behavior.

2

How does inflammation throw off my circadian rhythm, and what bodily functions does this impact?

The circadian rhythm is the body's internal clock, regulating sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, and other bodily functions. Inflammation, particularly through the activation of NF-kB, can disrupt this rhythm by interfering with key clock repressors and affecting the normal regulation of genes that control the circadian rhythm. This disruption can lead to impaired rhythmic activity behavior and affect metabolism and immune function.

3

What is the role of CLOCK/BMAL1 in the circadian rhythm, and how does inflammation affect it?

CLOCK/BMAL1 are key components of the body's central clock. Research has found that inflammation, through the activation of NF-kB, causes a shift in the location where CLOCK/BMAL1 binds to DNA. This change disrupts the normal regulation of genes that control circadian rhythms, impacting overall rhythmic behavior.

4

What did the *Genes & Development* study reveal about the connection between inflammation and circadian rhythms, and why is it important?

The study published in *Genes & Development* revealed that activating NF-kB, often triggered by inflammatory stimuli, significantly interferes with the normal functioning of the circadian clock in mice. The study is significant because it reveals how NF-kB acts as a crucial link between inflammation and circadian disruption. Further research is needed to fully understand the implications for humans.

5

What are clock repressors and what affect does inflammation have on them?

Period, Cryptochrome, and Rev-erb genes are examples of proteins that normally keep the clock in check. During inflammation, NF-kB is activated, and it suppresses the production of these proteins. The impact of supressing these proteins, is that without them, the clock runs wild.

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