NutriNet-Santé Study: Delaying Breakfast and Late-Night Eating Spike Your CVD Risk

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) stand as the foremost cause of global mortality, prompting a deep exploration into the nexus between dietary habits and heart health. A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications sheds light on the impact of daily eating and fasting cycles on circadian peripheral clocks and their involvement in cardiovascular regulation. The research delves into the associations between meal timing, fasting periods, and the incidence of CVD, coronary heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. This study investigated the link between daily eating habits and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here are the key takeaways: Later meals are linked to a higher CVD risk: people who ate their first meal after 9 am and their last meal after 9 pm had a greater chance of developing CVD, especially women. Early eating may be beneficial. Consuming meals earlier in the day and having a longer nighttime fast could be protective against CVD. Breakfast skipping is not recommended: The study suggests that skipping breakfast might not be a healthy strategy for heart health.

Key Points

1. Circadian Rhythms Impact Cardiovascular Health: NutriNet-Santé's study reveals that daily eating and fasting cycles synchronize circadian rhythms, influencing cardiometabolic functions crucial for cardiovascular health.

2. Breakfast and Late-Night Eating Significance: Skipping breakfast and late-night eating are linked to cardiovascular risk factors, emphasizing the importance of meal timing in maintaining optimal heart health.

3. Time-Restricted Eating (TRE) as a Game-Changer: Extending nighttime fasting beyond 12 hours, known as TRE, emerges as a potential strategy for improved cardiovascular health, supported by evidence from animal models and human studies.

4. Associations Between Meal Timing and CVD Risk: The study, involving 103,389 participants, identifies a higher overall CVD risk associated with delaying the first meal of the day beyond 9 AM and emphasizes the significance of nighttime fasting duration.

5. Gender Disparities Unveiled: Striking gender differences in associations with late first and last meals highlights the need for gender-specific considerations in cardiovascular health strategies.

6. Time-of-Day Matters: Optimal metabolism, dictated by circadian rhythms, underscores the importance of adopting earlier eating patterns for cardiovascular prevention, signaling a collective shift toward a healthier future.

The NutriNet-Santé study investigated the link between meal timing, fasting periods, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It found that delaying breakfast beyond 9 a.m. and shortening nighttime fasting were associated with a higher CVD risk. These effects were particularly pronounced in women. The study highlights the importance of aligning meal times with circadian rhythms for optimal cardiovascular health.

The Circadian Symphony of Meal Timing

The daily eating/fasting cycle emerges as a pivotal synchronizer of circadian rhythms in peripheral organs, influencing crucial cardiometabolic functions like blood pressure regulation. Chrononutrition, a burgeoning field in nutritional sciences, has embarked on unraveling the intricate connections between the timing of food intake, circadian rhythms, and overall health.

Breakfast and Late-Night Eating: Culprits or Contributors?

Breakfast and Cardiometabolic Health

Observational and interventional studies underscore the importance of breakfast consumption for maintaining optimal cardiometabolic health. Skipping breakfast has been linked to increased risks of overweight, obesity, CVD, and diabetes mellitus. However, challenges arise in defining a meal, posing a limitation to existing studies.

Late-Night Eating: A Risk Factor Unveiled

Late-night eating, a common feature in modern lifestyles, has been associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial stiffness, obesity, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome, particularly in women. Yet, the lack of consensus in defining meal times poses challenges to these findings.

Time-Restricted Eating (TRE): A Potential Game-Changer

A growing body of evidence suggests that practicing time-restricted eating (TRE), involving extending nighttime fasting beyond 12 hours, could yield multiple benefits for cardiovascular health. Animal models and human studies indicate improvements in metabolic health, reduced body weight, blood pressure regulation, and inflammation.

Unraveling the Study: Associations and Insights

Meal Timing and Eating Occasions

The NutriNet-Santé study, encompassing 103,389 participants, explores the associations between meal timing, the number of eating occasions, and the risk of CVD. Notably, delaying the first meal of the day beyond 9 a.m. is linked to a higher overall CVD risk. Interestingly, nighttime fasting duration emerges as a crucial factor, inversely associated with the risk of cerebrovascular disease.

Gender Disparities in Associations

Strikingly, the study reveals gender disparities, indicating stronger associations between late first and last meals and overall CVD risk in women compared to men. Late-night eating and its impact on arterial stiffness and metabolic syndrome exhibit significant gender differences.

Time-of-Day Matters: Implications for Cardiovascular Health

As we navigate the labyrinth of circadian rhythms and meal timing, it becomes evident that the time of day matters. Optimal metabolism, dictated by the circadian system, suggests that food intake is time-of-day-dependent. In this context, adopting earlier eating patterns emerges as a potential strategy for cardiovascular prevention.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the NutriNet-Santé study illuminates the intricate dance between meal timing and cardiovascular health. While the findings advocate for earlier eating patterns and extended nighttime fasting, the multifactorial nature of CVD underscores the need for a holistic approach to health. Recommendations on meal timing, coupled with a broader understanding of lifestyle factors, may pave the way for better cardiometabolic health.

Reference Article

Andreeva, V. A., Fezeu, L. K., Julia, C., Bellicha, A., Hercberg, S., Romaguera, D., Kogevinas, M., Touvier, M., & Srour, B. (2023). Dietary circadian rhythms and cardiovascular disease risk in the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort. Nature Communications, 14(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43444-3

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