Late Evening Meal Research Articles

The effect of melatonin on glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles after a late evening meal in healthy young males.

The suppression of melatonin by light at night (LAN) has been associated with a disruption of SCN function and biological processes. This study aimed to explore the impact of melatonin on glucose and lipid metabolism before and after a late evening meal. Nine healthy male participants (26 ± 1.3 years, BMI 24.8 ± 0.8 kg/m2 (mean ± SD) were randomly categorised into a three‐way cross‐over design protocol: light (>500 lux) (LS), dark (<5 lux) + exogenous melatonin (DSC) and light (>500 lux) + exogenous melatonin (LSC). All participants were awake in a semi‐recumbent position during each clinical session, which started at 18 00 h and ended at 06:00 h the following day. The meal times were individualised according to melatonin onset estimated from the participants' 48‐h sequential urine collection. The administration of exogenous melatonin was conducted 90 min before the evening meal. Saliva and plasma samples were collected at specific time points to analyse the glucose, insulin, NEFAs, TAGs, cortisol and melatonin levels. Participants demonstrated a significant reduction in postprandial plasma glucose, insulin and TAGs levels in the presence of melatonin (LSC and DSC) compared to LS (p = .002, p = .02 and p = .007, respectively). Pre‐prandial plasma NEFAs were significantly lower in LS than DSC and LSC as melatonin rose (p < .001). Exogenous melatonin administrated before an evening test meal improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and reduced postprandial TAGs. This study could have implications for shift workers who may have lower melatonin levels at night due to light suppression.

Late evening meal consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Late evening meal consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Effects of consuming later evening meal v. earlier evening meal on weight loss during a weight loss diet: a randomised clinical trial.

Previous evidence confirms a relationship between the timing of food intake and weight loss. We aimed to evaluate the effect of late v. early evening meal (EEM) consumption on weight loss and cardiometabolic risk factors in women during a weight loss programme. Eighty-two healthy women (BMI 27-35 kg/m2; age 18-45 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: EEM group (eating at 19.00-19.30 hours) or late evening meal (LEM) group (eating at 22.30-23.00 hours), for 12 weeks. Compared with the LEM group, the EEM group had a greater mean reduction in weight (EEM: -6·74 (sd 1·92) kg; LEM: -4·81 (sd 2·22) kg; P < 0·001), BMI (EEM: -2·60 (sd 0·71) kg/m2; LEM: -1·87 (sd 0·85) kg/m2; P < 0·001), waist circumference (EEM: -8 (sd 3·25) cm; LEM: -6 (sd 3·05) cm, P = 0·007), total cholesterol (EEM: -0·51 (sd 0·19) mmol/l, LEM: -0·43 (sd 0·19) mmol/l, P = 0·038), TAG (EEM: -0·28 (sd 0·10) mmol/l, LEM: -0·19 (sd 0·10) mmol/l, P < 0·001) and homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (EEM: -0·83 (sd 0·37); LEM: -0·55 (sd 0·28), P < 0·001) after 12 weeks. In conclusion, eating an earlier evening meal resulted in favourable changes in weight loss and plasma cardiometabolic risk markers during a weight loss programme.

Influence of the Accumulation of Unhealthy Eating Habits on Obesity in a General Japanese Population: The Hisayama Study

Few studies have examined the association between the accumulation of unhealthy eating habits and the likelihood of obesity or central obesity in a general Japanese population. We examined this association in a sample of 1906 community-dwelling Japanese subjects (age: 40–74 years) who participated in a health check-up in 2014. A face-to-face questionnaire interview was conducted to collect information about three unhealthy eating habits, i.e., snacking, eating quickly, and eating late-evening meals. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 and central obesity was defined as waist circumference ≥90 cm in men and ≥80 cm in women. The odds ratios (OR) were estimated by using a logistic regression analysis. Subjects with any one of the three eating habits had a significantly higher likelihood of obesity than those without that habit after adjusting for confounding factors. The multivariable-adjusted OR for obesity increased linearly with an increase in the number of accumulated unhealthy eating habits (p for trend < 0.001). Similar associations were observed for central obesity. Our findings suggest that modifying each unhealthy eating habit and avoiding an accumulation of multiple unhealthy eating habits might be important to reduce the likelihood of obesity.

Effects of Life style factors on the symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux disease: A cross sectional study in a Pakistani population

Background &Objective:Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) broadly includes the whole spectrum of reflux disease symptoms like heartburn or acid regurgitation to endoscopic, reflux esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus. Our aim therefore was to study the association between Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and various lifestyle factors.Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the outpatient department of Darul Sehat Hospital, Zubaida Medical Center and Liaquat National Hospital & Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan from January 2018 to October 2018. The selected candidates were asked to fill a validated GERD questionnaire and they were also asked about their lifestyle factors. Odds ratio and their 95% confidence interval were estimated using binary logistic regression with GERD symptoms as the study outcome.Results:A total of 2000 respondents completed the questionnaire. 69.3% gastroesophageal reflux disease cases were found in participants above 35 years of age while 56.9% subjects were male. The most common lifestyle factors associated with GERD were less exercise time (90.9%) (OR, 6.47; 95% CI, 4.91-8.53), 78.3% participants had habit of eating midnight snacks (OR, 5.08; 95% CI, 4.03-6.40), 87.3% participants reported less interval between dinner and sleep (OR, 6.98; 95% CI, 5.36-9.08). The most important factor relieving GERD symptoms was raising the head of bed during sleep (79.4%) while 43.3% subjects with the habit of post dinner walk reported fewer symptoms of GERD.Conclusion:Lifestyle factors particularly less physical activity, late evening meals, inadequate sleep, smoking and post dinner lying were found to be associated with GERD symptoms.

Wheat Albumin Increases the Ratio of Fat to Carbohydrate Oxidation during the Night in Healthy Participants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Not only are energy expenditure (EE) and the respiratory quotient (RQ) parameters of the energy nutrient utilization and energy balance, they are also related to the development of obesity. In this study, post-meal night-time energy metabolism was investigated following the oral ingestion of wheat albumin (WA) with a late evening meal. A randomly assigned, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial for a single oral ingestion in healthy participants was completed. The participants ingested the placebo (PL) or WA (1.5 g) containing tablets 3 minutes before the late evening meal at 22:00 hour, and energy metabolism was measured using a whole-room indirect calorie meter until wake-up. The participants were in bed from 00:00 hour until 06:30 hour. Twenty healthy participants completed the trial and were included in the analyses. Night-time RQ and carbohydrate oxidation were significantly lower following the WA treatment as compared with the PL treatment. Although the total EE was not significantly different between treatments, postprandial fat oxidation was significantly higher following the WA treatment as compared with the PL treatment. In conclusion, WA has the potential to shift the energy balance to a higher ratio of fat to carbohydrate oxidation during the night.

Glucose Response during the Night Is Suppressed by Wheat Albumin in Healthy Participants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Postprandial blood glucose excursions are important for achieving optimal glycemic control. In normal-weight individuals, glucose tolerance is diminished in the evening compared to glucose tolerance in the morning. Wheat albumin (WA) has the potential to suppress the postprandial glucose response with a relatively small dose, compared to the dose required when using dietary fiber. In the present study, the effect of WA on glycemic control during the night was investigated after a late evening meal. A randomly assigned crossover trial involving a single oral ingestion in healthy male participants was performed in a double-blind placebo-controlled manner. The participants ingested the placebo (PL) tablets or the WA (1.5 g)-containing tablets 3 min before an evening meal at 22:00 hour, and blood samples were drawn during the night until 07:00 hour using an intravenous cannula. The participants slept from 00:30 hour to 06:30 hour. Glucose response, as a primary outcome during the night, was suppressed significantly by the WA treatment compared to the PL treatment, but the insulin response was not. Plasma glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide concentration during the night was lowered significantly by the WA treatment compared to the PL treatment. In conclusion, WA may be a useful food constituent for glycemic control during the night.

Increased Plasma Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor 10.5 h after Intake of Whole Grain Rye-Based Products in Healthy Subjects.

It has previously been shown in short-term interventions that kernel-based whole grain (WG) rye products have beneficial effects on test markers related to obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D increases the risk of several severe health issues, including declined cognitive functions. The protein brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is suggested to be a potential biomarker for neuronal integrity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on plasma BDNF concentrations, 10.5 h after the intake of WG rye. Healthy young adults were provided late evening meals consisting of WG rye kernel-based bread (RKB) or a white wheat flour-based bread (reference product (WWB)), in a randomized cross-over design. The BDNF concentrations were investigated at fasting in the morning 10.5 h after single evening meals with RKB and WWB, and also after three consecutive evening meals with RKB and WWB, respectively. No difference was observed in the BDNF concentrations depending on the priming setting (p > 0.05). The RKB evening meals increased the BDNF concentrations by 27% at fasting (p = 0.001), compared to WWB. The increase of BDNF after the RKB indicate that, in addition to anti-diabetic properties, the dietary fiber in WG rye may support neuronal integrity.

Long working hours and skipping breakfast concomitant with late evening meals are associated with suboptimal glycemic control among young male Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims/IntroductionTo assess the associations of working conditions, eating habits and glycemic control among young Japanese workers with type 2 diabetes.Materials and MethodsThis hospital‐ and clinic‐based prospective study included 352 male and 126 female working patients with diabetes aged 20–40 years. Data were obtained from June to July 2012 and June to July 2013. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate multivariable‐adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for suboptimal glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin level of ≥7%) obtained from June to July 2013.ResultsMultivariable logistic regression analysis showed that disease duration of ≥10 years (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.02–5.80), glycosylated hemoglobin level of ≥7% in 2012 (OR 8.50, 95% CI 4.90–14.80), skipping breakfast and late evening meals (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.25–5.00) and working ≥60 h/week (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.16–7.40) were predictive of suboptimal glycemic control in male workers, whereas a glycosylated hemoglobin level of ≥7% in 2012 (OR 17.96, 95% CI 5.93–54.4), oral hyperglycemic agent therapy (OR 12.49, 95% CI 2.75–56.86) and insulin therapy (OR 11.60, 95% CI 2.35–57.63) were predictive of suboptimal glycemic control in female workers.ConclusionsWorking ≥60 h/week and habitual skipping breakfast concomitant with late evening meals might affect the ability of young male workers with type 2 diabetes to achieve and maintain glycemic control.

Bilious Vomiting Syndrome in Dogs: Retrospective Study of 20 Cases (2002-2012).

Bilious vomiting syndrome (BVS) is a condition historically associated with early morning vomiting of bile, but it is otherwise poorly characterized. The vomiting is thought to result from a reflux of duodenal fluid into the gastric lumen causing mucosal irritation. Medical records from Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (CSUVTH) were searched for "canine" and "bilious vomiting syndrome" between 2002 and 2012. Visual inspection confirmed a diagnosis of BVS during the case history. The diagnosis remained BVS for the duration of the dog's contact with the hospital in 17 cases. Therapy involved frequent feedings, late evening meals, gastric acid reducers, prokinetics, and gastroprotectants. Twelve dogs improved with therapy. Five dogs did not improve or were lost to follow-up. The diagnosis of BVS was supplanted in three cases with gastric adenocarcinoma, dietary indiscretion, and hepatopathy. The patient most likely given a diagnosis of BVS would be a young, mixed-breed, castrated male dog with a chronic history of vomiting bile. Response to therapy suggests abnormal gastrointestinal motility, local gastritis, gastric pH, or stimulation of the emetic center may be important factors in BVS. Dogs diagnosed with BVS rarely received a diagnostic evaluation sufficient to qualify it as a diagnosis of exclusion.

World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guidelines: GERD Global Perspective on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

PROBIOTICS—THE CONCEPTHistory and DefinitionsA century ago, Elie Metchnikoff (a Russian scientist, Nobel laureate, and professor at the Pasteur Institute in Paris) postulated that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) offered health benefits capable of promoting longevity. He suggested that “intestinal autoint

Rye-Based Evening Meals Favorably Affected Glucose Regulation and Appetite Variables at the Following Breakfast; A Randomized Controlled Study in Healthy Subjects.

BackgroundWhole grain has shown potential to prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Possible mechanism could be related to colonic fermentation of specific indigestible carbohydrates, i.e. dietary fiber (DF). The aim of this study was to investigate effects on cardiometabolic risk factors and appetite regulation the next day when ingesting rye kernel bread rich in DF as an evening meal.MethodWhole grain rye kernel test bread (RKB) or a white wheat flour based bread (reference product, WWB) was provided as late evening meals to healthy young adults in a randomized cross-over design. The test products RKB and WWB were provided in two priming settings: as a single evening meal or as three consecutive evening meals prior to the experimental days. Test variables were measured in the morning, 10.5–13.5 hours after ingestion of RKB or WWB. The postprandial phase was analyzed for measures of glucose metabolism, inflammatory markers, appetite regulating hormones and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in blood, hydrogen excretion in breath and subjective appetite ratings.ResultsWith the exception of serum CRP, no significant differences in test variables were observed depending on length of priming (P>0.05). The RKB evening meal increased plasma concentrations of PYY (0–120 min, P<0.001), GLP-1 (0–90 min, P<0.05) and fasting SCFA (acetate and butyrate, P<0.05, propionate, P = 0.05), compared to WWB. Moreover, RKB decreased blood glucose (0–120 min, P = 0.001), serum insulin response (0–120 min, P<0.05) and fasting FFA concentrations (P<0.05). Additionally, RKB improved subjective appetite ratings during the whole experimental period (P<0.05), and increased breath hydrogen excretion (P<0.001), indicating increased colonic fermentation activity.ConclusionThe results indicate that RKB evening meal has an anti-diabetic potential and that the increased release of satiety hormones and improvements of appetite sensation could be beneficial in preventing obesity. These effects could possibly be mediated through colonic fermentation.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02093481

Combined eating behaviors and overweight: Eating quickly, late evening meals, and skipping breakfast

ObjectiveVarious eating behaviors have been linked with body weight management. However, combined effects of major eating behaviors are not fully understood. This study aimed to clarify the association of the combination of eating quickly (EQ), late evening meals (LEM), and skipping breakfast (SB) with being overweight. MethodA cross-sectional study with standardized questions for EQ, LEM, and SB was conducted. Stratified random sampling of 5% of residents aged 20 to 80years was surveyed in a city in northeast Japan in 2011, and 4249 (84.9%) residents were analyzed. Association of combinations of eating behaviors on being overweight (BMI (kg/m2≥25.0)) was estimated by using logistic analysis, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidential interval were calculated after adjustment for potential covariates. ResultsLEM, SB, or a combination of LEM and SB was not significantly associated with being overweight. However, the combination of EQ or only EQ was significantly associated with being overweight. As the number of eating behavior practices increased, there was a linear increase in OR for being overweight. The OR of all three combined eating behaviors was higher than that of any combined two behaviors or of each behavior. DiscussionThis study result supports the evidence that EQ increases the risk of being overweight whether by itself or in combinations with LEM and/or SB. However, only LEM or only SB did not increase the risk of being overweight.

Misled by the Morning "Fasting" Plasma Glucose.

Because of its ease and simplicity of its measurement, the morning fasting plasma glucose (FPG), has been as used a surrogate marker for the entire basal day when titrating once-nightly basal insulin. Common in obese insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes, late and large evening meals elevate the FPG. This has led to dosing of basal insulin well beyond the basal requirements and contributes to hypoglycemia and weight gain seen with this therapy. It is recommended that during basal insulin titration, the evening meal be limited and hypoglycemia be monitored early in the morning, that bewitching time when the "peakless" basal insulin's action is peaking and the predawn phenomenon insulin sensitivity is higher.

Lifestyle Intervention in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects up to 30% of adults in Western populations and is increasing in prevalence. GERD is associated with lifestyle factors, particularly obesity and tobacco smoking, which also threatens the patient's general health. GERD carries the risk of several adverse outcomes and there is widespread use of potent acid-inhibitors, which are associated with long-term adverse effects. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the role of lifestyle intervention in the treatment of GERD. Literature searches were performed in PubMed (from 1946), EMBASE (from 1980), and the Cochrane Library (no start date) to October 1, 2014. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and prospective observational studies were included. Weight loss was followed by decreased time with esophageal acid exposure in 2 RCTs (from 5.6% to 3.7% and from 8.0% to 5.5%), and reduced reflux symptoms in prospective observational studies. Tobacco smoking cessation reduced reflux symptoms in normal-weight individuals in a large prospective cohort study (odds ratio, 5.67). In RCTs, late evening meals increased time with supine acid exposure compared with early meals (5.2% point change), and head-of-the-bed elevation decreased time with supine acid exposure compared with a flat position (from 21% to 15%). Weight loss and tobacco smoking cessation should be recommended to GERD patients who are obese and smoke, respectively. Avoiding late evening meals and head-of-the-bed elevation is effective in nocturnal GERD.

Associations of eating a late-evening meal before bedtime with low serum amylase and unhealthy conditions

Little is known about the associations of eating a late-evening meal (ELM), a putative unhealthy eating behavior, with low serum amylase, other eating behaviors, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Therefore, we investigated whether ELM before bedtime was associated with low serum amylase or other clinical factors in 2,426 asymptomatic adults aged 20–80 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ELM was significantly associated with low serum amylase (<60 IU/l), overweight, smoking, daily alcohol consumption, skipping breakfast, and rapid eating, but not with abnormal glucose metabolism. In conclusion, ELM may be independently associated with low serum amylase and common unhealthy behaviors.

Eating at the right time of day

aily cycles of light and dark due to the rotation ofthe earth around its axis have dictated how life hasevolved on Earth. Organisms have thus developedthe ability to predict these 24-h cycles by developing anendogenous circadian clock, which is entrained to externalcues. In mammals, circadian rhythms are controlled andgeneratedbythecentralormastercircadianclocklocatedinthe suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN)of the anterior hypothala-mus in the brain [1]. This master clock consists of multiplesingle-cellcircadianoscillatorsthataresynchronizedto24hby environmental factors, primarily dark/light and alsotemperature and food. The retina perceives the dark/lightcycleinformationandtransmitsthissignaltotheSCNviatheretinohypothalamic tract. The SCN then transmits theseinputs to peripheral oscillators located outside the SCN.Such peripheral oscillators exist in nearly all peripheraltissues such as liver, adipose, pancreas, muscle and blood.Therefore, circadian rhythms have been described for vir-tually all physiological and biochemical processes, includ-ing behavioural ones [2].The SCN may influence the cardiovascular systemprimarily through multisynaptic neural projections to theheart,adrenalcortex,kidneysandvasculatureandresultantneural or endocrine effects, and secondarily by circadianinfluences on behaviours such as sleep and activity andfeeding patterns [3]. Thus, the master SCN clock sendsperiodic signals to the peripheral oscillators in order toprevent dampening of circadian rhythms, but a complexreciprocal relationship seems also to exist. Indeed, alteredbehaviours, for example when sleeping or food intake isdesynchronized from normal circadian patterns, seem toaffect the peripheral oscillators or clocks in particular,resulting in metabolic processes that are decoupled fromthe primarily light-driven SCN [4,5]. In addition, the multi-plicityofperipheralclocksinthehumanorganismhasbeenfound to comprise networks that both control circadianprocessesandaretightlyconnectedtometabolicandneuralcontrol networks, such that disturbance of one affects theother. Hence, misalignment of circadian rhythms in theSCN and peripheral tissues may constitute an importantunderling factor for a variety of metabolic and vasculardisorders such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetesand hypertension [4,6,7]. Adverse cardiometabolic end-points including higher glucose, insulin, leptin, ghrelin,glucagon-like peptide-1, cortisol, blood pressure (BP)and catecholamines have been reported as results ofmisalignments invoked by food intake/irregular meal fre-quency (for comprehensive reviews see, for instance[1,2,4]). This new evidence illustrates how knowledge onchronobiology, that is the circadian influences on mech-anisms involved in metabolic and cardiovascular disease,and their interaction with behavioural influences, may beimportant for optimizing preventive lifestyle measures orpharmacological therapy [8,9]. For instance, preventingadversebehaviouraltriggersatspecificvulnerablecircadiantimes [4] or prescribing ingestion of medicines at specifictimes in anticipation of vulnerable periods [9,10] maymaximize their beneficial effects. Currently, such timedmeasures or chronotherapy constitute new avenues ofresearchforthepreventionandtreatmentofmanydiseases,including asthma, arthritis, cancer and seasonal affectivedisorder [11].Chronotherapy has been recommended for the treat-ment of major cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperten-sion [11] and dyslipidaemia [10], though typically in thecontext of pharmacotherapy. Timing of meals may con-stitute one such lifestyle therapeutical tool as well. In fact,some form of dietary chronotherapy is already imple-mented in metabolic diseases such as diabetes, whereinthe timing of meals is particularly important, as patientsneed to coordinate insulin administration with calorieintake. Interestingly, in recognition of the chronobiologicalaspects of nutrition, Franz Halberg [12] called for researchon the ‘when to eat’ question more than two decades ago.Currently, the beneficial chronobiological effects of foodintake (e.g. meal time, frequency and regularity) are beingsubject of intensive research as a potential additional or

Effects of indigestible carbohydrates in barley on glucose metabolism, appetite and voluntary food intake over 16 h in healthy adults

BackgroundRecent knowledge in animals suggests that gut microbial metabolism may affect host metabolism, including appetite regulating hormones. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential effects of a whole grain barley kernel product, rich in intrinsic indigestible carbohydrates (dietary fibre and resistant starch), on markers of metabolism and appetite regulation in healthy subjects.MethodsBoiled barley kernels (BK) or white wheat bread (WWB; reference) were provided as late evening meals to 19 young adults in random order using a cross-over design. During subsequent ad libitum standardized breakfast and lunch meals (10.5-16 h), blood was collected for analysis of glucose, plasma insulin, adiponectin, ghrelin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), serum free fatty acids (FFA) and interleukin (IL)-6. In addition, appetite sensations, voluntary energy intake and breath H2 were determined.ResultsBK as evening meal increased plasma GLP-1 at fasting (P < 0.05) and during the experimental day (P < 0.01) compared with WWB. In addition the BK evening meal decreased fasting serum FFA (P < 0.05) and tended to decrease fasting serum IL-6 (P = 0.06). At lunch, preceded by BK evening meal, voluntary energy intake was decreased (P < 0.05) when compared to WWB evening meal. The BK evening meal decreased incremental blood glucose area (P < 0.01), promoted higher breath H2 (P < 0.001), maintained adiponectin concentrations (P < 0.05) and reduced perceived hunger (P < 0.05) during 10.5-16 h after the meal.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the BK evening meal, facilitate glucose regulation, increase the release of GLP-1, reduce subsequent energy intake while at the same time decreasing hunger over 2 subsequent meals, and reduce fasting FFA the subsequent morning, possibly mediated through gut microbial fermentation of the indigestible carbohydrates.

Lifestyle Factors that Affect Youth’s Sleep and Strategies for Guiding Patients and Families Toward Healthy Sleeping

Sleep is essential for optimal child and adolescent health, development, and academic performance. Lifestyle habits significantly influence child and adolescent sleep regulation, conferring either positive or negative effects on the attainment of sufficient and high-quality sleep. The primary objective of this paper is, thus, to review the lifestyle factors which may disrupt a child’s sleep, on the one hand, and support healthy sleep, on the other. Lifestyle factors that have been found to negatively affect children and adolescents’ sleep include: 1) exposure to modern technologies (e.g., television, computer and video games) leading to increased light exposure and night-time arousal; 2) consumption of wake-promoting substances, such as caffeine, that affect the physiological regulation of arousal and sleep; 3) consumption of late-evening meals; 4) aspects of the physical environment (e.g., air quality) that hinder sleep; and 4) cultural norms that place a low priority on sleep. Despite the negative impact of such factors on youths’ sleep, such aspects are modifiable and can be easily targeted by simple and inexpensive interventions designed to promote healthy and sufficient sleep. This review offers several strategies to guide families in modifying unhealthy sleep habits and promoting refreshing, high-quality sleep.

Acute effect of late evening meal on diurnal variation of blood glucose and energy metabolism

The notion that late evening meal promotes weight gain is popular, and it may also elicit postprandial hyperglycemia, since glucose tolerance decreases during midnight. Diabetic patients with night-eating symptoms, compared with patients without night-eating behaviors, are more likely to be obese and to have elevated A1c. However, epidemiological analysis adjusted for difference in total energy intake did not identify nighttime eating as the risk of obesity. The present study evaluated the effect of a single loading of late evening meal on diurnal variation of blood glucose and 24-h energy expenditure. Ten young adults stayed twice in a room-size respiratory chamber for 24 h, in a randomized repeated-measures design. After the entrance to the chamber at 1700 h, the subjects took normal (1900 h) or late (2230 h) evening meal, breakfast and lunch, and remained in the chamber until 1700 h. Time course of blood glucose was measured by continuous glucose monitoring system. Late evening meal enhanced postprandial blood glucose response to the evening meal and the subsequent breakfast. Overall 24 h average blood glucose level was also elevated by late evening meal. Late evening meal shifted postprandial increase in energy expenditure toward late at night, but overall 24 h energy expenditure remained almost identical in the two dietary conditions. The present study under controlled sedentary condition supports the notion that a single loading of late evening meal enhances average blood glucose over 24 h, but does not support that late evening meal reduces 24 h energy expenditure.