Divided consumption of late-night-dinner improves glucose excursions in young healthy women: A randomized cross-over clinical trial

Abstract

Aims: Our aim was to explore the acute effect of the late-night-dinner and the divided-dinner on postprandial glucose levels in young healthy women.

Methods: Fourteen women (22.6 ± 2.6 years, BMI 20.2 ± 1.5 kg/m²: mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to this crossover study. Each participant wore a continuous glucose monitor for 5 days and consumed identical test meals from the second to the fourth day at home. Each participant consumed the test meals of breakfast at 0800 h, lunch at 1300 h, and the half of the participants consumed dinner at 2100 h (D21) on the second day, 1800 h (D18) on the third day, and divided dinner (DD: vegetable and rice at 1800 h, and vegetable and the main dish at 2100 h) on the fourth day. The rest of the participants consumed DD on the second day, and D21 on the fourth day.

Results: D21 demonstrated higher incremental glucose peak (IGP 2.74 ± 0.38 vs. 1.57 ± 0.23 mmol/L, p < .05, mean ± SEM) and incremental area under the curve for glucose (IAUC) 2300-0800 h (271 ± 63 vs. 111 ± 37 mmol/L × min, p < .05) than D18. On the other hand, DD ameliorated IGP (1.96 ± 0.29 mmol/L, p < .05), IAUC 2300-0800 h (80 ± 29 mmol/L × min, p < .001), and the mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (DD 2.34 ± 0.25 vs. D21 2.91 ± 0.28 mmol/L, p < .05) than D21.

Conclusions: Consuming late-night-dinner increased postprandial glucose levels, compared to DD, suggesting DD could be a practical strategy for reduction of postprandial glucose levels in young healthy women.