Evening chronotype associates with increased triglyceride levels in young adults in two independent populations

Background & aims: Evening chronotype has been linked with obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in middle-aged and older adults. However, few studies have analyzed this association in young adults. The aim of this study was to assess potential associations between individual chronotype and cardiometabolic outcomes in young adults of two independent populations from Europe and America. Methods: Total population comprised 2 223 young adults (18-29 years old), 525 from Spain (Europe) and 1 698 from Mexico (America). Anthropometric, body composition and biochemical analyses were performed. Circadian preference was determined using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Results: In these two young adult populations, a higher metabolic risk was found in those individuals with evening chronotypes, whereas those with neither or morning chronotypes showed lower cardiometabolic risk. Evening chronotypes showed lipid alterations with increased levels of triglycerides in both populations, VLDL-c in Spaniards and total cholesterol and LDL-c in Mexicans. Among the Mexican population, evening chronotypes showed higher MetS risk and more obesity traits than the other two chronotypes; no significant differences for the same comparison were found among the equivalent Spanish chronotypes. Evening chronotypes showed lower carbohydrates and higher fat intake in Spaniards, while they had lower fiber intake in Mexicans. The associations between MEQ score and cardiometabolic risk were independent of the dietary characteristics. Lifestyle factors differed among chronotypes with more smokers and habitual drinkers among evening chronotypes than in neither or morning chronotypes (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study performed in two American and European independent populations shows that even in apparently healthy young adults, evening chronotypes have increased cardiometabolic risk and lipid alterations as compared to neither or morning chronotypes. 0 2020 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In two independent populations of young adults from Europe and America, individuals with evening chronotypes have a higher cardiometabolic risk and lipid alterations compared to those with neither or morning chronotypes. Lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption also differed among chronotypes.