Liver ERα mediates sex differences in metabolic pattern changes in response to time-restricted feeding

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a dietary strategy used to prevent and treat obesity in both sexes. However, TRF affects liver metabolism differently in males and females, and the mechanisms behind these differences remain unclear. Our study reveals that during TRF, female livers are more likely to break down amino acids (AAs) to synthesize fats, while male livers significantly reduce fatty acid synthesis. The changes in the liver's AA metabolic profile after gonadectomy suggest that estrogen signaling is crucial for regulating AA metabolism in females during TRF. Additionally, we demonstrate that hepatic estrogen receptor α (ERα)-mediated AA metabolism contributes to the sex-specific effects of TRF on liver metabolism. These findings offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of TRF and its potential clinical application for treating fatty liver and other metabolic disorders. They also emphasize the need to consider sex differences when developing nutritional and pharmacological treatments for metabolic diseases in females.

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Publication Details

Journal
Life Metabolism
Published
2025-03-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/lifemeta/loaf011
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Dietary Effects on Health
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
4.66
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article

Liver ERα mediates sex differences in metabolic pattern changes in response to time-restricted feeding

Ting F Luo, Luting Liu, Haoqi Zhang, Shengyu Xu et al.
4 citations
Life Metabolism
Dietary Effects on Health
4.66
article

Liver ERα mediates sex differences in metabolic pattern changes in response to time-restricted feeding

Ting F Luo, Luting Liu, Haoqi Zhang, Shengyu Xu, Bin Feng, Tengteng Huang, Ruinan Zhang, Xin Jin, Chao Jin, Yong Zhuo, Tongxing Song, Hui Ye, Siyuan Liu, Xuemei Jiang, Yan Lin, Yi Yang, Lianqiang Che, Zhengfeng Fang, Xinyue Qi, Lun Hua
article en
4 citations

Abstract

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a dietary strategy used to prevent and treat obesity in both sexes. However, TRF affects liver metabolism differently in males and females, and the mechanisms behind these differences remain unclear. Our study reveals that during TRF, female livers are more likely to break down amino acids (AAs) to synthesize fats, while male livers significantly reduce fatty acid synthesis. The changes in the liver's AA metabolic profile after gonadectomy suggest that estrogen signaling is crucial for regulating AA metabolism in females during TRF. Additionally, we demonstrate that hepatic estrogen receptor α (ERα)-mediated AA metabolism contributes to the sex-specific effects of TRF on liver metabolism. These findings offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of TRF and its potential clinical application for treating fatty liver and other metabolic disorders. They also emphasize the need to consider sex differences when developing nutritional and pharmacological treatments for metabolic diseases in females.

Life MetabolismVol. 4(4)
Nanchang University (CN), Nanyang Technological University (SG), Huazhong Agricultural University (CN), Sichuan Agricultural University (CN), State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology (CN)
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Dietary Effects on Health
4.66
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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