Can Chrono-Nutrition Help Prevent Diabetes?

Akbar Nikkhah

doi:10.31579/2641-8975/031

Abstract

This editorial aimed to put forward a question if chrono-nutrition can help prevent diabetes through optimizing circadian rhythms of glucose metabolism. With the advancing mechanization, eating behavior (timing, sequence, and frequency) has changed. People are now more willing to eat fast foods at suboptimal times of the circadian period. Growing evidence suggests that untimely eating and lack of exercise can interfere with optimal physiological rhythms of glucose and insulin metabolism that can lead to diabetes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a foremost metabolic disorder worldwide occurring largely due to suboptimal eating timing and lifestyle. Consuming less sugars and carbohydrates during evening and overnight may help optimize human chrono-physiology. Chrono-nutrition via optimizing the timing of meals is a growing science that needs to be well practiced to help prevent or possibly reduce risks of T2D in today’s complicated life.

Highlights

This objective of this editorial was to develop and address a question if chrono-nutrition can help prevent diabetes through optimizing circadian rhythms of glucose metabolism
Glucose metabolism is meticulously associated with circadian systems
It has been shown that night workers have reduced glucose tolerance, and are at higher risks of prediabetes and diabetes development

Summary

Introduction

This objective of this editorial was to develop and address a question if chrono-nutrition can help prevent diabetes through optimizing circadian rhythms of glucose metabolism. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a structure present in the hypothalamus and a central clock that alongside peripheral clocks in liver orchestrates circadian rhythms of glucose metabolism [1,2]. It is known that glucose tolerance decreases in the evening and night and philosophically because less nutrients are needed overnight [3]. As such, eating large evening meals of mainly highsugar and starchy foods should be avoided to reduce risk of T2D.

Results

Conclusion