Alignment between timing of 'highest caloric intake' and chronotype in relation to body composition during adolescence: the DONALD Study

Purpose: Our aim was to assess alignment in timing of 'highest caloric intake' with individual chronotype and its association with body composition in adolescents.

Methods: We used repeatedly collected data from n = 196 adolescents (age 9-16 years, providing N = 401 yearly questionnaires) of the DONALD open cohort study. Chronotype was assessed by the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire from which midpoint of sleep (MSFsc) was derived. A sex- and age-specific diet-chrono-alignment score (DCAS) was calculated as the difference in hours between the chronotype-specific median timing of highest caloric intake of the studied population and the individual timing of 'highest caloric intake' or vice versa. Repeated-measures regression models were applied to study cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the DCAS and body composition, e.g., Fat Mass Index (FMI) or Fat Free Mass Index (FFMI).

Results: DCAS ranged from -6:42 h to + 8:01 h and was not associated with body composition. Among adolescents with a later chronotype (N = 201) a 1 h increase in DCAS (later consumption of 'highest caloric intake' in comparison to the median intake of that group), increased FFMI by 1.92 kg/m² (95% CI: 0.15, 3.69, p value = 0.04) over a median follow-up of 0.94 year.

Conclusion: Alignment of energy intake with individual chronotype appears beneficial for FFMI among those with a late chronotype.