Scientists have conducted a 7-year study and discovered that the timing of dinner can affect cardiovascular health and increase the risk of stroke.
Researchers from the University of Sorbonne Paris Nord in France assessed the health status of 103,389 individuals over a 7-year period and found that eating before 8 PM is better for health. The scientists examined dietary logs maintained by study participants from 2009 to 2022, tracking their meal times throughout the week.
According to a report from the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research published on December 14, researchers found that about one-third of participants had dinner before 8 PM, while another third dined at 9 PM. During the study, approximately 2,000 cases of cardiovascular disease were recorded.
When researchers analyzed the dinner times of individuals with cardiovascular diseases, they noted that those who dined the latest, after 9 PM, had a 28% higher risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack compared to those who ate dinner before 8 PM.
Stroke is a condition where the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, narrowed, or blocked, causing a lack of blood flow to areas of the brain that the affected blood vessels supply. When blood flow is compromised, brain tissue suffers from a lack of oxygen and nutrients, leading to necrosis. Strokes are categorized into two types: hemorrhagic stroke, which results from a ruptured blood vessel leading to bleeding in the brain, and ischemic stroke, which is due to narrowed or blocked blood vessels that reduce blood flow to the brain. Transient ischemic attack is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes symptoms resembling a stroke but does not result in acute infarction or permanent damage. |
Dr. Bernard Srour from the University of Sorbonne Paris Nord, the lead author of the study, stated, “People often advise against eating late, and this research demonstrates that such advice holds certain significance.
In today’s developing society, people are busier and often feel they never have enough time to complete their tasks. This busy lifestyle has led many to develop a habit of late-night eating after their obligations are fulfilled. However, late-night eating can increase the risk of health problems.”
Late-night dining can increase the risk of stroke. (Illustrative image).
Additionally, animal studies have shown that blood sugar levels and blood pressure tend to rise when animals eat dinner late. Eating dinner later, when blood pressure is lower, can damage blood vessels over time and increase the risk of developing blood clots, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.
Previous studies have also indicated that individuals dining after 9 PM have a higher risk of cerebrovascular problems, including strokes and transient ischemic attacks compared to those who eat before 8 PM.
According to another study published in Nature Communications, for each hour after 8 PM that participants had dinner, the risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack increased by 8%.
Thus, studies encourage everyone to have dinner earlier as it is a beneficial health habit. Additionally, dining earlier can help reduce the risk of stroke or transient ischemic attacks.
