Dietary Quality, Meal Timing and Circadian Syndrome Among Adults Attending NHANES 2005-2016

Abstract

Background: Apart from diet quality, meal timing and shift work have also emerged as risk factors for cardiometabolic disease and are associated with circadian rhythm disturbances. Circadian Syndrome (CircS) is a novel concept that aims to emphasize the circadian disruption related to cardiometabolic conditions, by expanding upon the criteria of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Objectives: To assess the associations of diet quality, meal timing and shift work with CircS in US adults, and to examine whether these associations are modified by sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Methods: Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2016 were analyzed. Factor analysis was used to construct dietary patterns. Participants were categorized as having favorable (12:30-13:15 pm) or unfavorable mealtimes based on midpoint of intake between breakfast and dinner. CircS included MetS components, plus short sleep and depression symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the associations. Results: Two major dietary patterns were identified. Western dietary pattern had high loadings of refined grains, solid fats, added sugars, and red and cured meats, while prudent pattern was characterized by a high intake of vegetables, whole grains, oils, nuts and seeds. The prevalence of CircS was 41.3%. Comparing extreme quartiles of intake, the odds ratios (OR) for having CircS were 1.96 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.53-2.53) and 0.71 (95%CI 0.58-0.86) for Western pattern and prudent pattern, respectively. Unfavorable mealtime and shift work were associated with higher likelihood of CircS (OR= 1.18; 95%CI 1.02-1.37 and OR= 1.40; 95%CI 1.02-1.93, respectively). Conclusion: Healthy dietary patterns and aligning meal timings with circadian rhythms are associated with a lower likelihood of having CircS.