How do meal timing and meal frequency influence the development, prevention, and management of metabolic syndrome? A systematic review of human studies.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12873/454manampiringPalabras clave:
Body composition, Circadian rhythms, Insulin sensitivity, Meal frequency, Meal timing, Metabolic syndrome, Time-restricted eating, Type 2 diabetesResumen
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex condition characterized by central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, significantly raising the risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Recent research emphasizes meal timing and frequency
as potentially modifiable lifestyle factors influencing metabolic health independently of caloric intake.
Objective: To systematically review how meal timing and
meal frequency impact the development, prevention, and management of metabolic syndrome.
Methods: A comprehensive search across Semantic
Scholar, Google Scholar, and Scopus extensive academic
database, identified relevant literature. Studies were included if they assessed meal timing/frequency interventions in adults, reported metabolic syndrome components, involved human subjects, and lasted at least four weeks. Data extraction systematically focused on study design, participant characteristics, intervention specifics, and metabolic outcomes.
Results: Thirty-two studies were reviewed, comprising
randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, meta-analyses, and intervention studies. Key findings indicate that regular and early time-restricted eating significantly improves insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, lipid profiles, and body composition (e.g., reduced visceral fat and waist circumference). Conversely, irregular or infrequent eating patterns, such as one meal per day, are associated with negative outcomes, including elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Conclusions: Aligning meal timing and frequency with cir
cadian rhythms and maintaining consistent meal schedules notably enhances metabolic health markers. These findings provide strong support for incorporating chrononutrition principles into public health recommendations and clinical practices for managing metabolic syndrome.
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