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: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relation between sleep quantity (TST), efficiency (SE) and regularity (SRI) and cardiometabolic parameters and eating habits. : Seventy clinically healthy adults (74% females; mean age 28.3 ± 10.1 years) were recruited at the Clinical Nutrition Unit of Careggi University Hospital, Florence, between October 2023 and December 2024. Sleep was monitored for 7 days using a Fitbit Alta HR actigraphy. Cardiometabolic health was assessed via bioimpedance and blood samples. Dietary habits were evaluated through 3-day food diaries and the Medi-Lite questionnaire. : Participants had an average TST of 7.4 ± 1.1 h, SE of 84.9 ± 6.9%, and SRI of 62.2 ± 19.9. Lower SRI (≤41, 1st quintile) was associated with higher fat mass (19.9 ± 6.7 vs. 15.2 ± 6.6%), higher total cholesterol (183.9 ± 20.9 vs. 155.0 ± 26.8 mg/dL), and lower folate (3.6 ± 1.6 vs. 5.6 ± 2.5 ng/mL) compared to higher SRI (≥80, 5th quintile). Sleeping <7 h/night was linked to higher BMI (22.6 ± 2.1 vs. 21.5 ± 2.0 kg/m ) and homocysteine (11.4 ± 2.3 vs. 10.4 ± 3.3 μmol/L). Weak but significant inverse correlations emerged between TST and BMI (R = -0.26, = 0.02) and between SRI and cholesterol (R = -0.28, = 0.01), but these associations disappeared in the multivariable linear regression adjusted model. : These findings underscore the role of sleep duration and regularity in shaping body composition and cardiometabolic health, supporting its relevance as a modifiable public health priority.

Background Obesity and its associated health complications have become a global public health concern, necessitating innovative approaches to weight management. One emerging area of research focuses on the influence of chronotype, an individual’s preferred timing for daily activities, on eating habits, weight regulation, and metabolic health. Recent observational studies suggest that the misalignment between an individual’s chronotype and external cues, such as meal timing, may contribute to metabolic dysregulation and obesity, but evidence from intervention studies is still limited. This study protocol describes a randomized controlled trial designed to explore the effects of a chronotype-adapted diet, compared with a diet with a conventional calorie distribution, on weight loss, cardiometabolic health, and gut microbiota composition. Methods A total of 150 overweight/obese adults will be recruited for this 4-month parallel-group, randomized, two-arm, open-label, superiority trial with 1:1 allocation ratio. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group will receive a low-calorie chronotype-adapted diet with a calorie distribution adapted to the individual chronotype (morning or evening), optimizing meal timing according to their peak metabolic periods. The control group will follow a standardized low-calorie healthy eating plan without considering chronotype. Both diets will have equivalent daily calorie content, adjusted according to gender and starting weight. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, blood, and fecal samples will be obtained from each participant at the beginning and the end of the study. The primary outcome is weight change from baseline. Secondary outcomes are changes from baseline in body mass index (BMI), fat mass, lipid and glycemic profile, fecal microbiota profile, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Discussion The results of this randomized controlled trial have the potential to advance our understanding of the complex interactions between chronotype, diet, body weight, and health outcomes. By providing evidence for personalized dietary interventions based on individuals’ circadian preferences, this research could offer insights into personalized nutrition strategies. Such knowledge could guide the development of innovative dietary interventions to optimize the prevention and management of overweight and obesity, while also improving the risk profile of these individuals. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05941871. Registered on 18 May 2023.

Background Twin pregnancies present unique challenges in maternal healthcare. However, current guidelines primarily address singleton pregnancies, resulting in a knowledge gap regarding their specific metabolic and dietary needs. This study aimed to follow women with twin pregnancies through all three trimesters, assessing basal metabolic rate (BMR), dietary intake, and diet quality. Methods A two-year prospective observational study was conducted at AOU Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy, involving 35 twin-pregnant women, with 32 completing the study. Participants underwent calorimetric, anthropometric, and dietary assessments during the first (8–13 weeks), second (14–27 weeks), and third trimesters (28–34 weeks). BMR was measured using indirect calorimetry and compared with predictive equations. Dietary intake was evaluated using 7-day food diaries and the Medi-Lite adherence score. Results Indirect calorimetry revealed an increase in BMR by 16%, rising from 1479 ± 196 kcal in the first trimester to 1733 ± 224 kcal in the third trimester. Hronek’s equation, previously validated for singleton pregnancies, was identified as the most accurate predictive tool for estimating BMR. Dietary analysis revealed that mean daily energy intake increased from 1660 ± 244 kcal in the first trimester to 1889 ± 262 kcal in the third trimester, consistently below recommendations, with insufficient macro- and micronutrient consumption. Poor diet quality was characterized by low intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and fresh fish, and high consumption of processed meats, cheese, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was moderate across all three trimesters. Conclusions This study highlights the increased energy demands and nutritional inadequacies in twin pregnancies, underscoring the need for tailored dietary guidelines and interventions.

Low-grade inflammation alters the homeostasis of the organism and favors the onset of many chronic diseases. The global growth in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in recent years has been accompanied by an increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF). Known to be hyperpalatable, economic and ready-to-eat, increased consumption of UPF has already been recognized as a risk factor for several chronic diseases. Different research groups have tried to investigate whether UPF consumption could promote low-grade inflammation and thus favor the development of noncommunicable diseases. Current evidence highlights the adverse health effects of UPF characteristics, not only due to the nutrients provided by a diet rich in UPF, but also due to the non-nutritive components present in UPF and the effect they may have on gut health. This review aims to summarize the available evidence on the possible relationship between excessive UPF consumption and modulation of low-grade inflammation, as potential promoters of chronic disease.

Mental health conditions are a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. The aim of this study was to explore the association between psychological disorders, Mediterranean diet (MD), and chronotype. A total of 344 participants (74% women) with a mean age of 33.5 ± 13 years were recruited. According to the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) score, 22% of participants had symptoms of depression, 23% anxiety, and 10% stress. The assessment of MD adherence through the Medi-Lite score revealed that participants with psychological disorders had significantly (p < 0.05) lower MD adherence than those without these conditions. Furthermore, less than 10% of the subjects with at least one symptom reported consuming the optimal amount of fruit and vegetables, while 72% showed excessive consumption of meat and meat products. Regarding chronotype, evening subjects reported the lowest MD adherence and the highest prevalence of all three psychological disorders analyzed. A multivariate analysis showed that female gender, age, being unmarried/single, sedentary lifestyle, and low MD adherence were associated with a significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety, and stress. Future studies are needed to explore the relationship between mental health and risk factors to improve personal and global population health.

Purpose Recent studies indicate that shift work may affect workers' eating habits and overall well-being. This study aimed to assess differences in eating patterns, sleep quality, and mental health between Italian shift and non-shift workers, with a focus on individual chronotype and the type of shift work (day vs. night shift). Methods The cross-sectional study involved 322 subjects (166 shift and 156 non-shift workers). Eating habits were evaluated using a 7-day diary and the Medi-Lite questionnaire. Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and mental health with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). Individual chronotype was defined using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Results No significant differences in daily energy, macronutrient, and micronutrient intake between the two groups, nor in the temporal pattern of eating. However, shift workers had significantly (p < 0.05) lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) (7.6 ± 2.3 vs 8.1 ± 2.2) compared to non-shift workers. Shift workers also reported significantly poorer sleep quality (mean PSQI score 7.6 ± 3.7 vs. 5.8 ± 3.0) and higher levels of anxiety and stress symptoms. Among shift workers, those with an evening chronotype had significantly lower MD adherence than those with a morning chronotypes. Additionally, night shift workers experienced more sleep disturbances compared to day ones. Conclusion Shift workers reported lower MD adherence, poorer sleep quality, and a higher prevalence of anxiety and stress symptoms compared to a similar group of non-shift workers. Evening chronotypes and night shift work were associated with worse eating habits and sleep quality.

Oilseed by-products (Cynara cardunculus and Camelina sativa) (CCCS) are rich in bioactive compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the health effects of consuming yogurt made from goat milk fed with CCCS industrial residues in adults. In this randomized, crossover clinical trial, 20 healthy adults (14F; 37.7 ± 14.2 years) consumed either yogurt made from goat milk fed with CCCS or regular goat yogurt (C) daily for 1 month in each phase. Anthropometric parameters and blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of each phase. CCCS yogurt consumption resulted in a significant fat mass reduction (−1.8% and −1.1 kg) and fat-free mass increase (+1.5% and +0.9 kg). Regarding blood parameters, a non-significant decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol was observed, particularly after the CCCS intervention. Moreover, creatinine levels exhibited an opposite trend (p = 0.023) after CCCS, decreasing in subjects aged ≤30 years (−0.03 mg/dL) and increasing in older subjects (+0.05 mg/dL). Regarding inflammatory parameters, a non-significant trend in increased IL-1ra levels was observed especially after CCCS yogurt consumption compared to the C yogurt (+56.9 vs. +19.1 pg/mL, respectively). The use of unconventional feed derived from oilseed by-products for dairy goat feeding may have potential possible beneficial effects on human health.