Abstract
A higher energy intake (EI) at night has been associated with a higher risk of obesity, while a higher EI at lunch may protect against weight gain. This study examined the association between EI throughout the day and incident metabolic syndrome (MetS) among older adults. A cohort of 607 individuals aged ≥ 60 free from MetS at baseline was followed from 2008–2010 until 2015. At baseline, habitual EI was assessed on six eating occasions: breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and snacking. MetS was defined according to the harmonized definition. Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression and adjusted for the main confounders, including total EI, diet quality, and physical activity/sedentary behavior. During follow-up, 101 new MetS cases occurred. Compared to the lowest sex-specific quartile of EI at dinner, the OR (95% confidence interval) for incident MetS were: 1.71 (0.85–3.46) in the second, 1.70 (0.81–3.54) in the third, and 2.57 (1.14–5.79) in the fourth quartile (p-trend: 0.034). Elevated waist circumference and triglycerides were the MetS components that most contributed to this association. A higher EI at dinner was associated with a higher risk of MetS in older adults. Reducing EI at dinner might be a simple strategy to prevent MetS.
Highlights
The understanding of circadian rhythm and its impact on health has increased substantially in the last decade
The circadian system is regulated by a central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and various peripheral tissues located in other brain regions, as well as in the liver, pancreas, gut, white adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle, which act as peripheral clocks
With regard to the five components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), we found that participants in the highest vs. lowest quartile of energy intake (EI) at dinner had a higher risk of abdominal obesity (OR 2.15;, as well as a significant tendency for elevated triglyceridemia (p-trend: 0.025) (Table 5)
Summary
The understanding of circadian rhythm and its impact on health has increased substantially in the last decade. The circadian system is regulated by a central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and various peripheral tissues located in other brain regions, as well as in the liver, pancreas, gut, white adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle, which act as peripheral clocks. The suprachiasmatic nucleus acts via the autonomic nervous system, and is responsible for the circadian secretion of hormones, as well as the regulation of the temperature throughout the day [1]. Some external exposures act as synchronizers of the central and the peripheral clocks. These synchronizers are known as time-givers (“zeitgebers” in German) [3]. There is increasing evidence that nutritional timing, the time of day when energy is consumed, is part of this regulation [2,5]
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