Circadian Disruption and the Gut–Liver Axis: Linking Modern Lifestyle, Microbiome Dysbiosis, and Metabolic Liver Health

Abstract

Circadian disruption caused by modern lifestyle factors, including shift work, irregular sleep patterns, and altered meal timing, has been increasingly associated with metabolic disturbances. This narrative review aims to summarize the current evidence regarding the relationship between circadian disruption, gut microbiome alterations, and metabolic liver health through the gut-liver axis. Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases with relevant keywords related to circadian rhythm, gut microbiome, chrononutrition, and liver metabolism. A total of 18 articles published between 2020 and 2025 were included and analyzed descriptively. Current evidence indicates that circadian disruption is associated with changes in gut microbial composition, inflammatory regulation, bile acid metabolism, and hepatic metabolic homeostasis.