The Effects of Circadian Rhythm Disorders on Hormones

The circadian rhythm is an autoregulatory feedback loop that occurs in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. It regulates various metabolic activities in the body, with processes controlled at specific times throughout the 24-hour cycle. This feedback loop involves the binding of genes and proteins, maintaining the body's biological clock. However, in modern times, circadian rhythms can often become misaligned due to factors like work schedules or internal issues. Hormones, which can be lipids or proteins, act on target cells to trigger various activities within the body. The types of hormones directly controlled by the circadian rhythm will be introduced in the following review. Additionally, we will discuss the consequences of circadian disruption on these hormones and the associated problems. This review systematically examined the fundamental principles of circadian rhythms, their molecular and neural regulatory mechanisms, and their critical role in governing endocrine functions, including the regulation of cortisol, insulin, leptin, and melatonin secretion.