Relações entre ciclo sono-vigília e estado nutricional em adultos: um estudo exploratório

Abstract

The relationship between the sleep-wake cycle and nutritional status has been a growing topic of interest in the scientific literature due to the significant impact these factors have on overall health. Studies indicate that disruptions in circadian rhythm can negatively affect metabolism, increasing the risk of developing chronic noncommunicable diseases. However, there is a significant gap in understanding how these sleep and wake patterns relate to nutritional status. This exploratory study aimed to analyze the concordance between the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and bed and wake times obtained through actigraphy, as well as to investigate the associations of these data with dietary patterns, anthropometry, and physical activity levels in a sample of the adult population. The sample consisted of 35 young adults, predominantly female, monitored for 14 consecutive days with actigraphy and the MEQ for chronotype assessment. The results showed partial concordance between the MEQ and actigraphy, with notable discrepancies among evening types, who exhibited significantly later bed and wake times when measured by actigraphy compared to selfreports on the MEQ. Individuals with later sleep times had higher carbohydrate and calorie intake, particularly at night, and poorer anthropometric profiles, such as higher body fat percentage and BMI. Total sleep time was negatively associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the percentage of protein in the diet. Significant associations between chronotypes and the variables studied revealed that evening chronotypes were more prone to nighttime eating habits and poorer body composition indicators, while morning chronotypes showed healthier dietary patterns and better performance in anthropometric measures and physical activity. However, the small sample size and the predominance of female participants limit the generalization of the results. Despite these limitations, it is concluded that while the MEQ is effective in identifying subjective chronotype preferences, it does not fully reflect the actual sleep and wake times captured by actigraphy, particularly in evening types. Additionally, evening chronotypes are associated with less healthy eating patterns and poorer body composition indicators, while morning chronotypes demonstrate a more favorable profile in terms of nutritional health and physical activity. These findings suggest that personalized interventions that consider individual chronotype may be effective in promoting healthier eating and sleep habits. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples are needed to confirm and expand these conclusions.