Does the timing and frequency of meals impact caloric and macronutrient intake in pregnant women?

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between chrononutritional parameters and daily total energy as well as macronutrient intake throughout different stages of pregnancy. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 100 pregnant women. Data was collected at each gestational trimester. Food intake data was accessed through three 24-hour dietary recalls in every trimester. Chrononutritional parameters, such as meal and snack times, eating duration, number of eating episodes, caloric midpoint, sleep end-first meal interval, last meal-sleep onset interval, were used to infer meal timing. Linear regression modeling analyses, adjusted for confounding factors, were carried out to investigate associations between each chrononutritional parameter (independent variables) and total daily energy and macronutrient intake (dependent variables) during each gestational trimester. Positive associations were observed between total energy intake, proteins, and carbohydrates with dinner time during the first and third trimesters (with the exception of protein intake in the third trimester). Total fat intake and dinner time showed a positive association throughout all gestational trimesters. Additionally, positive associations were found between total energy intake, fat, and carbohydrates with eating duration and the number of eating episodes in all gestational trimesters. Furthermore, correlations of dinner time, eating duration and number of eating episodes with energy intake were found, suggesting that pregnant women who ate later and more frequently tended to consume higher calorie amounts. In conclusion, our findings suggest that chrononutritional parameters associated with late eating are linked to increased total energy intake during pregnancy. If these results are confirmed, nutritional guidelines should not only focus on what or how much is consumed during pregnancy but also consider the timing of meals.