Could chronotype be a risk factor for unhealthy eating and prediabetes?

ABSTRACT

Objective

To examine the possible effects of chronotype on nutritional status and fasting blood glucose(FBG) among female university students.

Method

The study was conducted in two stages.In the first stage,the chronotype of the participants were determined by applying the Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire(MEQ) questionnaire to 384 students.Also physical activity records and sociodemographic characteristics were questioned. Women who didn’t meet the criteria were eliminated.In the second stage, study groups were formed with 92 students(46 evening and 46 morning type). Afterwards,3-day food consumption records were taken from 92 participants and FBG measurements were taken only from the volunteers.

Results

Significant differences were found between the food consumption and FBG values of students of different chronotypes.Evening type students' protein(g),protein percentage,fiber intake were found to be significantly low,while carbohydrate percentage intakes were higher(p < 0.05).Also BMI(β = -0.240; p < 0.05) and FBG(β = -0.314; p < 0.05) were found significant predictors of MEQ scores whereas age was not(β = -0.136; p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Dieticians/nutritionists should give nutritional advice to the students and organize their diet by considering their chronotype to prevent health problems that may arise.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronotype
• nutritional status
• fasting blood glucose
• university students

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank to the participants who accepted to participate in our study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical statement

The ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Eastern Mediterranean University Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee (approval number: ETK00–2022–0039). Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects.