Breakfast Timing and Type 2 Diabetes Risk: A Comprehensive Study

Recent studies indicate a significant correlation between the timing of breakfast consumption and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Specifically, consuming breakfast post 9 a.m. escalates the chances compared to an early meal intake. This study analyzed the eating habits of over 100,000 individuals, underscoring the effect of meal timings on diabetes risk, with late breakfasts negatively impacting glucose regulation and insulin metrics.

In a research spanning seven years with a sample size of over 100,000 participants, it was discerned that those eating breakfast after 9 a.m. faced a 59% elevated risk of contracting type 2 diabetes. This emphasizes the crucial role of meal timing in averting diseases.

The major findings of the research, which saw the participation of ISGlobal, an entity backed by the “la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with a French cohort, highlighted that individuals who consumed breakfast after 9 a.m. exhibited a 59% amplified risk of developing type 2 diabetes as opposed to those who ate prior to 8 a.m. The study demonstrates the potential to mitigate diabetes risk not just by dietary modifications but also by adjusting meal timings.

On Meal Timing and Its Impact

Apart from conventional risk factors of type 2 diabetes like unhealthy dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking, meal timing emerges as another critical determinant. Anna Palomar-Cros, an ISGlobal researcher and the study’s lead author, asserts, “While it’s recognized that meal timing is pivotal in governing circadian rhythms, glucose, and lipid regulation, limited studies have delved into its association with type 2 diabetes.”

For this particular research, ISGlobal collaborated with the INSERM team in France to probe the relationship between meal frequency, its timing, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among 103,312 adults (comprising 79% women) from the French NutriNet-Santé cohort. Participants provided online records detailing their 24-hour dietary consumption on three non-consecutive days, inclusive of meal timings. The researchers then analyzed these records over the initial two-year period and monitored participants’ health for an average of seven subsequent years.

Breakfast, Dinner, and Their Correlation with Diabetes

During the research tenure, 963 individuals were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Alarmingly, those who routinely consumed breakfast post 9 a.m. faced a higher risk than early eaters. Palomar-Cros elaborated, “Biologically, these findings align, as missing breakfast can skew glucose, lipid, and insulin levels.” She further corroborated her statement citing two meta-analyses which deduced that omitting breakfast augments type 2 diabetes risk.

Furthermore, the researchers discerned that late dinners (beyond 10 p.m.) potentially elevate the risk, while eating approximately five times daily correlated with reduced disease prevalence. However, extended fasting proves beneficial only if complemented with an early breakfast and dinner.

Inferences and Chrononutrition Implications

Manolis Kogevinas, an ISGlobal researcher and the study’s co-author, summarizes, “To diminish type 2 diabetes incidence, it’s advisable to have the day’s first meal before 8 a.m. and the last one before 7 p.m.” Previously, the same ISGlobal team substantiated the link between an early dinner and reduced risks of breast and prostate cancer. Cumulatively, these findings underscore the significance of chrononutrition – the nexus between diet, circadian rhythms, and wellness – in preempting type 2 diabetes and other chronic ailments.

Reference: “Associations of meal timing, number of eating occasions and night-time fasting duration with incidence of type 2 diabetes in the NutriNet-Santé cohort” authored by Anna Palomar-Cros et al., published on 16 June 2023, in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyad081

Funding: Provided by PRE2019-089038/Ministry of Economy in Spain.

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• ISGlobal Research Studies
• Insights on Type 2 Diabetes
• Role of Meal Timing in Health
• French NutriNet-Santé Cohort Findings
• Impact of Chrononutrition on Chronic Diseases