Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Many
lines of evidence suggest that the disturbances in circadian rhythm are responsible
for the development of CVDs; however, circadian misalignment is not yet a treatable
trait in clinical practice. The circadian rhythm is controlled by the central clock
located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and clock genes (molecular clock) located in
all cells. Dyslipidaemia and vascular inflammation are two hallmarks of atherosclerosis
and numerous experimental studies conclude that they are under direct influence by
both central and molecular clocks. This review will summarise the results of experimental
studies on lipid metabolism, vascular inflammation and circadian rhythm, and translate
them into the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. We discuss
the effect of time-respected administration of medications in cardiovascular medicine.
We review the evidence on the effect of bright light and melatonin on cardiovascular
health, lipid metabolism and vascular inflammation. Finally, we suggest an agenda
for future research and recommend on clinical practice.
