Abstract
Chronotype (CT) has been associated with predisposition to chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs), such as diabetes mellitus and obesity. However, the effects of CT on individuals assisted by public health systems (PHSs) in middle-up economies are still poorly explored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between CT and clinical, sociobehavioral and nutritional aspects in adults assisted by a PHS in Brazil. This is a population-based cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 380 individuals, selected through probabilistic sampling by clusters, in all health units in a city of approximately 100 thousand inhabitants. Data collection was performed during home visits, by means of general and nutritional interviews, anthropometric measurements and the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Statistical analysis comprised chi-square test and principal component analysis (CPA) followed by Fisher’s discriminant analysis to determine aspects associated with each CT (morning, evening or intermediate). With the aim of explaining the variation in the CT scores, the consumption of micronutrients (corrected to the total energy intake) and other individual and sociodemographic variables were used as explanatory factors in the adjustment of a linear regression model. The morning group was characterized by older men, with less than eight years of schooling, with low body mass index (BMI) and with low intake of omega-6, omega-3, sodium, zinc, thiamine, pyridoxine and niacin. The evening group, on the other hand, was composed of younger individuals, with a high consumption of these same nutrients, with high BMI and a higher frequency of heart diseases (p < 0.05). It was concluded that most morning CT individuals were elderly thin males with lower consumption of omega-6 and -3, sodium, zinc, thiamine, pyridoxine and niacin, whereas evening individuals were younger, had higher BMI and had higher consumption of the studied micronutrients. The identification of circadian and behavioral risk groups can help to provide preventive and multidisciplinary health promotion measures.
Highlights
Chronotype (CT) represents an individual’s circadian phenotype [1,2,3], generating performance patterns as morning, evening or intermediate types [4,5]
The unbalance of the physiological synchrony may be associated with the appearance of chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) [1,13,14]
The frequency of heart diseases was different among chronotypes, being higher in the evening CT group, it is important to consider the small number of individuals of this group
Summary
Chronotype (CT) represents an individual’s circadian phenotype (e.g., one’s behavioral preference) [1,2,3], generating performance patterns as morning, evening or intermediate types [4,5]. CT has a genetic basis, it is influenced by environmental, biological and social factors [1,6,7,8]. Epidemiological studies demonstrate a normal distribution of CT in the population [3,9] and several tools may be used to determine CTs, ranging from questionnaires to hormonal measures [5,10,11]. Human beings are able to subvert the light–dark cycle, and metabolic functions together with social interactions may influence the circadian rhythm. Nutrient intake and meal distribution along the day/night periods and hormonal secretions integrate metabolism signals to the central clock [7,12]. The unbalance of the physiological synchrony may be associated with the appearance of chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) [1,13,14]
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