Chronotype Differences Research Articles

Sleep and wake are shared and transmitted between individuals with insomnia and their bed-sharing partners.

Patients with insomnia frequently report disturbing, or being disturbed by, their bedpartner. We aimed to (1) characterize how individuals with insomnia and their bedpartners influence each other's sleep and (2) identify characteristics predicting vulnerability to wake transmission. Fifty-two couples (aged 19-82 years), where one individual was diagnosed with insomnia, participated. Sleep/wake patterns were monitored via actigraphy and sleep diaries for seven nights. Minute-by-minute sleep and wake concordance (simultaneous sleep/wake epochs), number of wake transmissions received (awakenings immediately preceded by wakefulness in the bedpartner), percent wake transmissions received (percentage of total awakenings that were transmitted), and percent of bedpartner's wake minutes resistant to transmission (ability to sleep through bedpartner wakefulness) were calculated. Mixed-effects modeling assessed within-couple bedtime and chronotype differences as predictors of dyadic sleep. We described rates of sleep concordance (MPatient = 63.8%, MPartner = 65.6%), wake concordance (MPatient = 6.6%, MPartner = 6.6%), total transmissions received (MPatient = 5.5, MPartner = 6.9 per night), percent transmissions received (MPatient = 18.5%, MPartner = 23.4% of total awakenings), and percent minutes resistant (MPatient = 56.4%, MPartner = 58.6% of bedpartner's wake time). Partners received wake transmissions at 1.25 times the rate of patients. Percent transmissions received was increased in couples with concordant bedtimes and individuals with later chronotype than their bedpartner. Patterns of chronotype and bedtime order predicting percent minutes resistant to transmission differed across the length of the rest interval. Transmission provides a novel characterization of how bedpartners influence sleep and provide insight into mechanisms of insomnia generation and maintenance. Understanding modifiable risk factors may provide ways to personalize insomnia treatments. Clinical Trial Researching Effective Sleep Treatments (Project REST), ANZCTR Registration: ACTRN12616000586415.

Individual Differences in the Neural Basis of Response Inhibition After Sleep Deprivation Are Mediated by Chronotype.

Sleep deprivation (SD) has been reported to severely affect executive function, and interindividual differences in these effects may contribute to the SD-associated cognition impairment. However, it is unclear how individual differences in chronotypes (morning-type, MT; evening-type, ET) influence neurobehavioral functions after SD. To address this question, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate whether 24 h of SD differentially affect response inhibition, a core component of executive function, in MT and ET individuals. Accordingly, MT and ET participants were instructed to follow their preferred 7–9-h sleep schedule for 2 weeks at home both prior to and throughout the course of the study, and then performed a go/no-go task during fMRI scanning at 08:00 a.m. both at rested wakefulness (RW) and following SD. We also examined whether the neurobehavioral inhibition differences in the chronotypes in each session can be predicted by subjective ratings (sleepiness, mood, and task) or objective attention. Behaviorally, SD led to an increased response time of go trials (hit RT), more attentional lapses, higher subjective sleepiness, and worse mood indices, but it did not impair the accuracy of go trials (hit rate) and no-go trials (stop rate). Regardless of the presence of SD, ET individuals exhibited a lower stop rate, higher subjective ratings of sleepiness, exhausted mood, and task difficulty in comparison with MT individuals. On the neural level, SD resulted in decreased inhibition-related activation of the right lateral inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) in MT individuals and increased rIFG activation in ET individuals. Moreover, the rIFG activation in ET individuals after SD was positively correlated to the subjective ratings of sleepiness and effort put into the task, which was considered as a compensatory response to the adverse effects of SD. These findings suggest that individual differences in inhibition-related cerebral activation after SD are influenced by chronotypes. In addition, ET individuals may be vulnerable to response inhibition. Thus, it is essential to take into consideration the chronotype in SD research and sleep medicine.

Chronotype Genetic Variant in PER2 is Associated with Intrinsic Circadian Period in Humans

The PERIOD2 (PER2) gene is a core molecular component of the circadian clock and plays an important role in the generation and maintenance of daily rhythms. Rs35333999, a missense variant of PER2 common in European populations, has been shown to associate with later chronotype. Chronotype relates to the timing of biological and behavioral activities, including when we sleep, eat, and exercise, and later chronotype is associated with longer intrinsic circadian period (cycle length), a fundamental property of the circadian system. Thus, we tested whether this PER2 variant was associated with circadian period and found significant associations with longer intrinsic circadian period as measured under forced desynchrony protocols, the ‘gold standard’ for intrinsic circadian period assessment. Minor allele (T) carriers exhibited significantly longer circadian periods when determinations were based on either core body temperature or plasma melatonin measurements, as compared to non-carriers (by 12 and 11 min, respectively; accounting for ~7% of inter-individual variance). These findings provide a possible underlying biological mechanism for inter-individual differences in chronotype, and support the central role of PER2 in the human circadian timing system.

Strategies to decrease social jetlag: Reducing evening blue light advances sleep and melatonin.

The timing of sleep is under the control of the circadian clock, which uses light to entrain to the external light-dark cycle. A combination of genetic, physiological and environmental factors produces individual differences in chronotype (entrained phase as manifest in sleep timing). A mismatch between circadian and societal (e.g., work) clocks leads to a condition called social jetlag, which is characterized by changing sleep times over work and free days and accumulation of sleep debt. Social jetlag, which is prevalent in late chronotypes, has been related to several health issues. One way to reduce social jetlag would be to advance the circadian clock via modifications of the light environment. We thus performed two intervention field studies to describe methods for decreasing social jetlag. One study decreased evening light exposure (via blue-light-blocking glasses) and the other used increased morning light (via the use of curtains). We measured behaviour as well as melatonin; the latter in order to validate that behaviour was consistent with this neuroendocrinological phase marker of the circadian clock. We found that a decrease in evening blue light exposure led to an advance in melatonin and sleep onset on workdays. Increased morning light exposure advanced neither melatonin secretion nor sleep timing. Neither protocol led to a significant change in social jetlag. Despite this, our findings show that controlling light exposure at home can be effective in advancing melatonin secretion and sleep, thereby helping late chronotypes to better cope with early social schedules.

Chronotype and cellular circadian rhythms predict the clinical response to lithium maintenance treatment in patients with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a serious mood disorder associated with circadian rhythm abnormalities. Risk for BD is genetically encoded and overlaps with systems that maintain circadian rhythms. Lithium is an effective mood stabilizer treatment for BD, but only a minority of patients fully respond to monotherapy. Presently, we hypothesized that lithium-responsive BD patients (Li-R) would show characteristic differences in chronotype and cellular circadian rhythms compared to lithium non-responders (Li-NR). Selecting patients from a prospective, multi-center, clinical trial of lithium monotherapy, we examined morning vs. evening preference (chronotype) as a dimension of circadian rhythm function in 193 Li-R and Li-NR BD patients. From a subset of 59 patientdonors, we measured circadian rhythms in skinfibroblasts longitudinally over 5 days using a bioluminescent reporter (Per2-luc). We then estimated circadian rhythm parameters (amplitude, period, phase) and the pharmacological effects of lithium on rhythms in cells from Li-R and Li-NR donors. Compared to Li-NRs, Li-Rs showed a difference in chronotype, with higher levels of morningness. Evening chronotype was associated with increased mood symptoms at baseline, including depression, mania, and insomnia. Cells from Li-Rs were more likely to exhibit a short circadian period, a linear relationship between period and phase, and period shortening effects of lithium. Common genetic variation in the IP3 signaling pathway may account for some of the individual differences in the effects of lithium on cellular rhythms. We conclude that circadian rhythms may influence response to lithium in maintenance treatment of BD.

Exploring determinants of behavioral chronotype in a diurnal-rodent model of human physiology

Numerous studies conducted with human participants have shown that differences in chronotype, defined as individual patterns of early or late beginning of daily activity, have implications for many biobehavioral processes, such as cognitive performance, mood, impulsivity, academic achievement of college students, and mental health. However, the determinants of individual variation in chronotype have not been investigated. Basic research on circadian rhythms has provided a basis for investigating the causes of chronotype variation, but experimental tests of pertinent hypotheses are difficult to conduct with human subjects. This limitation can be overcome by use of animal models. This study was conducted with a rodent species, the antelope ground squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus), that, like humans, is active during the daytime, exhibits a spread of chronotypes, and has a similar average free-running circadian period. We found chronotype to be a stable trait within individuals based on strong consistency of separate determinations made six months apart (correlation r = 0.91). We also found a moderate correlation of chronotype with the duration of the active phase (r = −0.51) and with free running period (r = 0.34), but weak correlation with rhythm robustness (r = 0.16), and no correlation with photic responsiveness or with masking responses. The best multiple regression model, incorporating the duration of the active phase, free-running period, and rhythm robustness, explained 38% of the variance in chronotype. Although 62% of the variance in chronotype remained unaccounted for, the results are encouraging because they document the possibility of using a diurnal rodent as a model for the investigation of the determinants of chronotype variation in humans.

Sleep Quality and Chronotype Differences between Elite Athletes and Non-Athlete Controls.

Previous research has found that elite athletes have insufficient sleep, yet the specific kinds of sleep disturbances occurring as compared to a control group are limited. Here we compare the subjective sleep quality and chronotype of elite athletes to a control group of non-athlete good sleepers. Sixty-three winter Canadian National Team athletes (mean age 26.0 ± 0.0; 32% females) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Athlete Morningness Eveningness Scale. They were compared to 83 healthy, non-athlete, good-sleeper controls (aged 27.3 ± 3.7; 51% females) who completed the PSQI and the Composite Scale of Morningness. The elite athletes reported poorer sleep quality (PSQI global score 5.0 ± 2.6) relative to the controls (PSQI global score 2.6 ± 1.3), despite there being no group difference in self-reported sleep duration (athletes 8.1 ± 1.0 h; controls 8.0 ± 0.7 h). Further, athletes’ chronotype distribution showed a greater skew toward morningness, despite there being no group differences in self-reported usual bedtime and wake time. These results suggest that a misalignment of sleep times with circadian preference could contribute to poorer sleep quality in elite athletes.

Distributions of GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons in the brains of a diurnal and nocturnal rodent

Light influences the daily patterning of activity by both synchronizing internal clocks to environmental light-dark cycles and acutely modulating arousal states, a process known as masking. Masking responses are completely reversed in diurnal and nocturnal species. In nocturnal rodents, masking is mediated through a subset of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) whose projections are similar in diurnal and nocturnal rodents. This raises the possibility that differences in responsivity to signals that these cells release might underlie chronotype differences in masking. We explored one aspect of this hypothesis by examining the distribution of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations in many ipRGC target areas of a diurnal species (Nile grass rat) and a nocturnal one (Norway rat). We discovered that while many of these regions were very similar in these two species, there were striking differences in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN; higher density of glutamate cells in Norway rats) and in the lateral habenula (LHb; GABAeric cells present in grass rats, but not Norway rats). These patterns raise the possibility that the vLGN and LHb contribute to differences in masking and/or circadian regulation of diurnal and nocturnal species.

The relationship between night eating symptoms and disordered eating attitudes via insomnia and chronotype differences

Humans' sleep timing and the psychological construct “diurnal preference” determines their “chronotype” (i.e., morning or evening type). Diurnal preferences can affect sleep-awake rhythms and eating behaviors. Our aim in this study was to examine the relationship between night eating symptoms and disordered eating attitudes by evaluating insomnia and chronotype differences in university students. The participants, 383 university students, filled out a package of psychological tools, including the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Night Eating Questionnaire, and the Eating Attitude Test. One way analysis of variance was used to investigate the relationship of chronotypes with scale scores, and mediation regression analysis was used to investigate the indirect effects of night eating symptoms on disordered eating attitudes. Insomnia and night eating scores of the participants varied statistically according to chronotypes, and both insomnia and night eating scores were associated with the evening type. Findings show that night eating symptoms have a direct effect on the chronotype differences and insomnia and an indirect effect on disordered eating attitudes, by increasing insomnia scores. In conclusion, night eating syndrome may represent the misalignment of food intake and may shift the circadian rhythm to delayed sleep phase, acting as a peripheral oscillator in human.

Chronotype differences in cortical thickness: grey matter reflects when you go to bed.

Based on individual circadian cycles and associated cognitive rhythms, humans can be classified via standardised self-reports as being early (EC), late (LC) and intermediate (IC) chronotypes. Alterations in neural cortical structure underlying these chronotype differences have rarely been investigated and are the scope of this study. 16 healthy male ECs, 16 ICs and 16 LCs were measured with a 3T MAGNETOM TIM TRIO (Siemens, Erlangen) scanner using a magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo sequence. Data were analysed by applying voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and vertex-wise cortical thickness (CTh) analysis. VBM analysis revealed that ECs showed significantly lower grey matter volumes bilateral in the lateral occipital cortex and the precuneus as compared to LCs, and in the right lingual gyrus, occipital fusiform gyrus and the occipital pole as compared to ICs. CTh findings showed lower grey matter volumes for ECs in the left anterior insula, precuneus, inferior parietal cortex, and right pars triangularis than for LCs, and in the right superior parietal gyrus than for ICs. These findings reveal that chronotype differences are associated with specific neural substrates of cortical thickness, surface areas, and folding. We conclude that this might be the basis for chronotype differences in behaviour and brain function. Furthermore, our results speak for the necessity of considering "chronotype" as a potentially modulating factor in all kinds of structural brain-imaging experiments.

Gene Polymorphisms Associated with Sleep and Cognitive Functions and Their Associations with Accident Proneness in Shift-Working Bus Drivers

The aim of the present work was to investigate a series of single-nucleotide gene polymorphisms and their associations with accident proneness in bus drivers. The study involved 299 shift-working professional drivers for whom accident statistics were available. Polymorphisms in genes associated with the sleep-waking rhythm and cognitive and emotional functions were investigated, i.e., CLOCK (rs12649507), RORA (rs1159814), NPAS2 (rs4851377), NPSR1 (rs324981), PER3 (rs2640909), DRD3 (rs6280), SLC6A3 (rs6347), and DBH (rs1611125). The study identifi ed signifi cant associations between accident parameters and polymorphisms in the CLOCK, NPSR1, and SLC6A3 genes. We suggest that these are due to differences in chronotype and resistance to impairments to the sleep regime for the CLOCK gene and in cognitive and emotional control for the NPSR1 and SLC6A3 genes.

Genetic-based signatures of the latitudinal differences in chronotype

The natural cycles of night and day, and their length, remain stable in near-equatorial African regions but they vary with latitude and season in Eurasia. This new environmental factor might shape the adaptation of circadian rhythms of Eurasians after the out-of-African dispersal of their African ancestors. To identify the genetic-based signatures of this adaptation, geographic variation in allele frequencies of more than 2300 genetic variants was analyzed using data from 5 African and 11 Eurasian populations of the 1000 Genomes Project. The genetic signatures of latitude-dependent polygenic selection were found more frequently within non-coding DNA regions associated with morningness–eveningness in genome-wide association studies (GWASs) than among polymorphisms hinted by GWASs of other traits/diseases and among polymorphisms sampled from pseudogenes and from protein-coding regions in either circadian clock genes or reference genes. Some of such variants were located within the introgressions of the Neanderthal’s genome into the genomes of Eurasians.

Modifiable lifestyle behaviors, but not a genetic risk score, associate with metabolic syndrome in evening chronotypes

Evening chronotype associates with health complications possibly via lifestyle factors, while the contribution of genetics is unknown. The aim was to study the relative contributions of genetics, lifestyle, and circadian-related physiological characteristics in metabolic risk of evening chronotype. In order to capture a biological contribution to chronotype, a genetic-risk-score (GRS), comprised of 15 chronotype-related variants, was tested. Moreover, a wide range of behavioral and emotional eating factors was studied within the same population. Chronotype, lifestyle, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) outcomes were assessed (n = 2,126), in addition to genetics (n = 1,693) and rest-activity/wrist-temperature rhythms (n = 100). Evening chronotype associated with MetS and insulin resistance (P < 0.05), and several lifestyle factors including poorer eating behaviors, lower physical activity and later sleep and wake times. We observed an association between higher evening GRS and evening chronotype (P < 0.05), but not with MetS. We propose a GRS as a tool to capture the biological component of the inter-individual differences in chronotype. Our data show that several modifiable factors such as sedentary lifestyle, difficulties in controlling the amount of food eaten, alcohol intake and later wake and bed times that characterized evening-types, may underlie chronotype-MetS relationship. Our findings provide insights into the development of strategies, particularly for evening chronotype.

Individual differences in chronotypes associated with academic performance among Chilean University students

ABSTRACTA chronotype is an individual trait that determines circadian rhythm (dark/light cycle) characteristics, associated with bedtime, waking, and other daily activities. A chronotype is classified as morning, intermediate, and evening. The objective is to associate chronotypes with academic performance in university students. A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the chronotype of university students (n = 703) by Horne-Ostberg questionnaire and associated with academic performance. The group with higher GPAs had higher chronotype scores (p = 0.002). Morning and intermediate chronotypes exhibited better academic performance; however, more studies are necessary to determine the underlying causes, which could influence cognitive aspects.

The relationship between depression and chronotype: A longitudinal assessment during childhood and adolescence.

During adolescence, chronotype shifts toward "eveningness." "Eveningness" is related to negative physical and mental health outcomes. Little is known about what influences the shift in chronotype beyond pubertal status. The current study examined the influence of earlier depression predicting later individual differences in adolescent chronotype, accounting for pubertal status, and the prospective prediction of later increases in depression from earlier chronotype. Youth (age M=12.06, SD=2.35; 56.5% girls) from the community completed repeated assessments of depression, including both self-reports (14 assessments) and diagnostic interviews (eight assessments), over a 48-month period. At the 36-month timepoint, participants completed chronotype and pubertal development measures. Regression and ANOVA analyses examined: (1) the influence of earlier depression levels (baseline to 36 months) upon chronotype, and (2) chronotype (at 36 months) upon later depression (48 months). Youth with higher earlier depression symptoms (β=-0.347, P<.001) and history of depression diagnosis (β=-0.13, P=.045) showed a greater eveningness preference controlling for pubertal status, age, and gender. Further, depression diagnosis history interacted with pubertal status to predict chronotype: (F(1,243)=4.171, P=.045) such that the influence of depression on chronotype was greatest among postpubertal youth (t=3.271, P=.002). Chronotype (greater eveningness preference) predicted prospective increases in depression symptoms (β=-0.16, P=.03) and onset of depressive episode (b=-0.085, OR=0.92, P=.03) 1 year later. Depression, experienced earlier in life, predicts greater preference for eveningness, especially among postpubertal youth. In turn, later depression is predicted by evening preference. These findings suggest the reciprocal interplay between mood and biological rhythms, especially depression and chronotype, during adolescence.

What #theDress reveals about the role of illumination priors in color perception and color constancy.

The disagreement between people who named #theDress (the Internet phenomenon of 2015) “blue and black” versus “white and gold” is thought to be caused by individual differences in color constancy. It is hypothesized that observers infer different incident illuminations, relying on illumination “priors” to overcome the ambiguity of the image. Different experiences may drive the formation of different illumination priors, and these may be indicated by differences in chronotype. We assess this hypothesis, asking whether matches to perceived illumination in the image and/or perceived dress colors relate to scores on the morningness-eveningness questionnaire (a measure of chronotype). We find moderate correlations between chronotype and illumination matches (morning types giving bluer illumination matches than evening types) and chronotype and dress body matches, but these are significant only at the 10% level. Further, although inferred illumination chromaticity in the image explains variation in the color matches to the dress (confirming the color constancy hypothesis), color constancy thresholds obtained using an established illumination discrimination task are not related to dress color perception. We also find achromatic settings depend on luminance, suggesting that subjective white point differences may explain the variation in dress color perception only if settings are made at individually tailored luminance levels. The results of such achromatic settings are inconsistent with their assumed correspondence to perceived illumination. Finally, our results suggest that perception and naming are disconnected, with observers reporting different color names for the dress photograph and their isolated color matches, the latter best capturing the variation in the matches.

Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Self-reported Mood State in Response to High Intensity Interval Training. A Crossover Study on the Effect of Chronotype.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of chronotype on mood state and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) before and in response to acute high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) performed at different times of the day. Based on the morningness–eveningness questionnaire, 12 morning-types (M-types; N = 12; age 21 ± 2 years; height 179 ± 5 cm; body mass 74 ± 12 kg) and 11 evening-types (E-types; N = 11; age 21 ± 2 years; height 181 ± 11 cm; body mass 76 ± 11 kg) were enrolled in a randomized crossover study. All subjects underwent measurements of Profile of Mood States (POMS), before (PRE), after 12 (POST12) and 24 h (POST24) the completion of both morning (08.00 am) and evening (08.00 p.m.) training. Additionally, Global Mood Disturbance and Energy Index (EI) were calculated. RPE was obtained PRE and 30 min POST HIIE. Two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test of POMS parameters during morning training showed significant differences in fatigue, vigor and EI at PRE and POST24 between M-types and E-types. In addition, significant chronotype differences were found only in POST12 after the evening HIIE for fatigue, vigor and EI. For what concerns Borg perceived exertion, comparing morning versus evening values in PRE condition, a higher RPE was observed in relation to evening training for M-types (P = 0.0107) while E-types showed higher RPE values in the morning (P = 0.008). Finally, intragroup differences showed that E-types had a higher RPE respect to M-types before (P = 0.002) and after 30 min (P = 0.042) the morning session of HIIE. No significant changes during the evening training session were found. In conclusion, chronotype seems to significantly influence fatigue values, perceived exertions and vigor in relation to HIIE performed at different times of the day. Specifically, E-types will meet more of a burden when undertaking a physical task early in the day. Practical results suggest that performing a HIIE at those times of day that do not correspond to subjects’ circadian preference can lead to increased mood disturbances and perceived exertion. Therefore, an athlete’s chronotype should be taken into account when scheduling HIIE.Trial registration:ACTRN12617000432314, registered 24 March 2017, “retrospectively registered”.Web address of trial:https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371862&showOriginal=true&isReview=true

Conscientiousness but not agreeableness mediates females' tendency toward being a morning person.

Individuals differ in their chronotype, and some are identified as morning ones and others as evening ones. Earlier studies showed that women were higher on morningness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. In this study, we aimed at exploring the mediational effects of conscientiousness and agreeableness in the relationship of gender and morningness-eveningness. Participants were 669 university students. Results supported positive relationships between morningness and conscientiousness and agreeableness and between conscientiousness and agreeableness. Females were higher on all these three variables. Mediation analyses suggested that the effect of gender (here females) on chronotype (here morningness) was mediated by conscientiousness but not agreeableness so that after the mediation partially occurred, the gender's effect did not remain significant anymore. This study backed our hypothesis that conscientiousness might play a more pronounced role than the intrinsic diurnal rhythm concerning the sex differences in chronotype.

Genetic Markers of Sleep and Sleepiness.

The circadian clock interacts with the sleep homeostatic drive in humans. Chronotype and sleep parameters show substantial heritability, underscoring a genetic component to these measures. This article reviews the genetic underpinnings of chronotype and of sleep, including sleepiness, sleep quality and latency, and sleep timing and duration in healthy adult sleepers, drawing on candidate gene and genome-wide association studies. Notably, both circadian and noncircadian genes associate with individual differences in chronotype and in sleep parameters. The article concludes with a brief discussion of future research directions.

Chronotype differences in timing of energy and macronutrient intakes: A population-based study in adults.

To examine the association between chronotype and timing of energy and macronutrient intakes in adults. The study sample included 1,854 participants from the National FINRISK 2007 and FINDIET 2007 studies, aged 25 to 74 years. Diet was assessed with 48-hour dietary recalls. Chronotype was assessed with a shortened version of Horne and Östberg's Morningness-eveningness Questionnaire. Associations between chronotype and intakes of energy and macronutrients in the morning (by 10 am) and in the evening (after 8 pm) were analyzed with linear regression and ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test. In the morning, evening types had lower energy and macronutrient intakes (except for sucrose of which they had a higher intake) than morning types (P < 0.05), while in the evening, evening types had higher intakes of energy, sucrose, fat, and saturated fatty acids than morning types (P < 0.05). On the weekend, chronotype differences in evening intakes of energy, sucrose, and fat intake were more pronounced, and evening types had more eating occasions and more irregular meal times than morning types. Postponed energy and macronutrient intake timing of evening types with unfavorable dietary patterns may put them at higher risk of obesity and metabolic disturbances in the future.