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Snack quality and snack timing are associated with cardiometabolic blood markers: the ZOE PREDICT study
Snacking is a typical diet practice that contributes significantly to daily calorie consumption, having a key role in determining the quality of a diet. It is still unknown, nevertheless, how snacking quality, quantity, and timing relate to cardiometabolic health. To answer these questions, Bermingham et al. (2023) used data from the UK PREDICT 1 cohort (n = 1002), including demographics, food, stool metagenomics, and health (fasting and postprandial cardiometabolic blood and anthropometrics indicators). Snacks (food or drink consumed between meals) were self-reported (weighed records) over the course of 2-4 days. The snack diet index (SDI) was used to calculate the average frequency and quality of snacking (N = 854 after exclusions). Data analysis demonstrated that participants were 73% female on average, had a mean BMI of 25.6 kg/m2, and had a mean age of 46.1 ± 11.9 years. 44% of participants did not agree on the quality of their meals and snacks; 95% of participants ate snacks (≥1 snack per day; n = 813); the average daily snack consumption was 2.28 snacks (24 ± 16% of daily calories; 203 ± 170 kcal). Snacking amount and frequency overall were not linked to cardiometabolic risk factors in snackers. Higher blood indicators, such as increased postprandial triglycerides (TGs), fasting TGs, insulin resistance, fasting insulin, and hunger, were linked to worse snack quality (SDI range 1–11). Compared to all other snacking periods, late-evening eating (at or past 9 p.m.; 31%) was related to lower blood indicators (HbA1c, however, remained significant after multiple tests). The authors conclude that using snack timing and quality provides simple targets for dietary quality and health status improvements. [NPID: Snacking, quality, frequency, quantity, timing, cardiometabolic health]
Year: 2023
