The association between chrononutrition behaviors and muscle health among older adults: The Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA)

ABSTRACT Background Emerging studies highlight chrononutrition’s impact on body composition through circadian clock entrainment, but its effect on older adults’ muscle health remains largely overlooked. Objective To determine the associations between chrononutrition behaviors and muscle health in older adults. Methods Dietary data from 828 older adults (76±5y) recorded food/beverage amounts and their clock time over the past 24 hours. Studied chrononutrition behaviors included: 1) The clock time of the first and last food/beverage intake; 2) Eating window (the time elapsed between the first and last intake); and 3) Eating frequency (Number of self-identified eating events logged with changed meal occasion and clock time). Muscle mass (D 3 -creatine), leg muscle volume (MRI), grip strength (hand-held dynamometer), and leg power (Keiser) were used as outcomes. We used linear regression to assess the relationships between chrononutrition and muscle health, adjusting for age, sex, race, marital status, education, study site, self-reported health, energy, protein, fiber intake, weight, height, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Results Average eating window was 11±2 h/d; first and last intake times were at 8:22 and 19:22, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, a longer eating window and a later last intake time were associated with greater muscle mass (β±SE: 0.18±0.09; 0.27±0.11, respectively, P <0.05). The longer eating window was also marginally associated with higher leg power ( P =0.058). An earlier intake time was associated with higher grip strength (−0.38±0.15; P =0.012). Conclusions Chrononutrition behaviors, including longer eating window, later last intake time, and earlier first intake time were associated with better muscle mass and function in older adults. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT Key findings Chrononutrition behaviors, including longer eating window, later last intake time, and earlier first intake time were associated with better muscle mass and function in older adults.