Late-evening eating linked to poorer heart health in women: AHA 2019 meeting

USA: Eating later in the evening may take a toll on women's heart health, suggests a recent study presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2019. The study was presented by Nour Makarem, Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

According to the study, a greater intake of calories later in the evening after 6 pm and 8 pm increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in women. Every 1% increase in calories consumed after 6 p.m., increased the likelihood of higher blood pressure (BP) and body mass index and poorer long-term control of blood sugar. Similar findings occurred with every 1% increase in calories consumed after 8 p.m.

“This research demonstrates that earlier timing and a lower percentage of kilocalories consumed at evening meals are associated with more favorable cardiovascular health and may represent a modifiable strategy to lower cardiovascular disease risk,” said Dr. Makarem. “So far, cardiovascular disease prevention strategies targeting diet have focused primarily on what we eat and how much we eat, but our research suggests that when we eat may also be important for lowering cardiovascular risk.”

The study involved 112 women (average age 33, 44% Hispanic). Cardiovascular health was assessed among the patients using the American Heart Association’s Life Simple 7 measures at the beginning of the study and one year later. Life's Simple 7 indicates the risk factors that can be modified by lifestyle changes to help achieve ideal cardiovascular health including eating healthy food, controlling body weight, being physically active, not smoking and controlling body weight along with measuring cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Study participants kept electronic food diaries by computer or cell phone to report what, how much and when they ate for one week at the beginning of the study and for one week 12 months later. Data from the food diary completed by each woman was used to determine the relationship between heart health and the timing of when they ate.

Key findings of the study include:

• While most study participants consumed some food after 6 p.m., those who consumed a higher proportion of their daily calories after this time had poorer heart health.


• With every 1% increase in calories consumed after 6 p.m., heart health declined.


• Specifically, women who consumed more of their calories after 6 p.m. were more likely to have higher blood pressure, higher body mass index and poorer long-term control of blood sugar.


• Similar findings occurred with every 1% increase in calories consumed after 8 p.m.


• The impact on blood pressure was more pronounced in Hispanic women who consumed most of their calories in the evening and persisted even after adjusting for age and socioeconomic status.

"This research is foundational, and our results warrant confirmation in larger population-based studies with a longer follow-up period," emphasizes Dr. Makarem.

Reference:

Evening eating linked to poorer heart health for women