Habitual Night Eating Was Positively Associated with Progress of Arterial Stiffness in Chinese Adults

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Night eating habits have been associated with elevated risk of obesity, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, longitudinal study is lacking on whether habitual night eating, regardless of overall diet quality and total energy intake, is associated with arterial stiffness, a major preclinical pathologic change of CVD. The objective of this study was to longitudinally examine night eating habits and progression of arterial stiffness in an adult population free of major chronic disease at baseline. Methods Included were 7771 Chinese participants aged 18 years or older without history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes prior to dietary assessment by validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in 2014–2015 (baseline), from the Kailuan Study. Participants were categorized into 3 groups based on baseline self-reported night eating habits – almost never, some days (1–5 times/wk), or most days (6 + times/wk). Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) at baseline and repeatedly during follow-up visits. Progression of arterial stiffness was calculated as yearly change rate of baPWV (cm/s per year). Multiple linear regression models were used to calculate adjusted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across three groups, adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking and drinking habits, sleep quality, total energy intake, diet quality, breakfast frequency, and other cardiovascular risk factors. Results At baseline, 6625 (85.2%), 610 (7.8%), and 536 (6.9%) participants reported night eating habits as never, some days, or most days, respectively. During 3.19 ± 1.88 years of follow-up, we observed a positive association between frequency of night eating and progression of arterial stuffiness (p-trend = 0.01). The adjusted difference in change rate of baPWV between participants who ate at night almost every day and those who almost never ate at night was 14.1(95% CI: 0.6, 27.5) cm/s per year. This association was more pronounced in women than in men (p-interaction = 0.03). Conclusions In an adult population free of major chronic diseases, habitual night eating was positively associated with progression of arterial stiffness, a hallmark of arteriosclerosis and biological aging. Funding Sources None.