Association Between the Individual Chronotype and Body Composition in German Students - The ChroNu Study

Background:

The chronotype is defined as the midpoint of sleep and describes biological construct of an organisms temporal organisation. It is itself determined by genetics, age, sex, and environment. Misalignment between the individual chronotype and socially determined schedules may result in a phenomenon which has been called "social jetlag". Emerging evidence indicates that a later chronotype and/or "social jetlag" predisposes to weight gain, higher BMI and higher odds for type 2 diabetes. A later chronotype has been also associated with a more adverse body composition. Since the chronotype progressively delays from adolescence until early adulthood (approx. 20 years of age), before it advances again, young adults may be particularly vulnerable to such adverse exposures. These exposures may result of a higher evening energy intake which in turn was observed for a later chronotype at adolescence. A preferred consumption of energy intake in the evening lead to higher total energy intake. Social schedules such as early starting hours at schools and universities, which potentially contribute to substantial "social jetlag", may influence individual meal timing. The chronotype, however, may be the main predictor for meal timing like skipping breakfast or not. However, it is not clear yet whether this affects predominantly early or late chronotypes in young adults.

Data on the development of overweight / obesity prevalence in Germany indicates that rates are now constant or declining in most adult age groups, with the clear exception of young adults, in whom rates continue to be on the rise. Nonetheless, the potential contribution of chronotype and/or social jetlag to this secular trend has not been addressed in Germany.

Hypothesis:

The hypothesis of the ChroNu cohort is that individual chronotype and social jetlag are predictors of (changes in) body composition in young adulthood (ages 18-25 years) and that changes in chronotype / social jetlag will result in changes in body composition.

Aim:

Hence, the investigators aim to study the association between the body composition and the chronotype / social jetlag at first stage and in a follow-up after one year the causal relationship between changes in chronotype/social jetlag and body composition.

Methods 1: participants In the ChroNu cohort study, the investigators will recruit at least 300 students from Paderborn University aged 18 -25 years. Students will be contacted via social media, mailing-lists, poster and flyer, and presentation of the study in lectures. The ChroNu cohort study will last from Sept 2019 to approximately Febr 2020. Due to the restrictions caused by the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, participants were recruited again in June 2020 to fill in an online survey consisting of the same questionairies as at baselineThe follow-up is scheduled for May - June 2022.

Methods 2: Methods:

In the screening of participants for ChroNu cohort study, eligible participants are asked to fill in the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ, © Roenneberg \& co-workers 2015), which is a validated questionnaire to calculate the individual chronotype. In this questionnaire, participants are asked about their sleep timing separately for work days and work-free days: when they go to bed (bed time); when they prepare to sleep); how long it takes them to fall asleep (sleep latency); when they wake up (sleep end); and how long it takes them to get out of bed (sleep inertia). The mid-sleep point, which defines the chronotype, is calculated as the time when falling asleep plus half of the sleep duration. If the sleep duration is longer on free days than on work days this oversleep is corrected (corrected mid-sleep point): half of the difference in sleep duration is subtracted. Social jet lag is calculated as the difference between the mid-sleep time on work days and work-free days.

The individual body composition, which is the outcome of this study, is analyzed using Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA) (mBCA 515, SECA). For the analyses, waist circumference, body size and body weight are required: waist circumference is measured midway between the lowest rib and the iliac crest by trained personal following the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations and entered in the BIA device. Body size is measured by means of an ultrasonic measuring station (seca 287 dp) from SECA and directly transferred to the BIA device. For measurement of body weight and body composition participants need to stand on the BIA device.

Since the chronotype and potentially resultant social jetlag is affected by environment, participants are asked to fill in additional questionnaires on their daily routines and diurnal patterns in both physical activity and meal timing and food intake. Questions on daily routine include start and end time of both university and work if applicable.

For a following ChroNu nutritional trial, the investigators are looking for the earliest and latest chronotypes among our ChoNu cohort. Participants each with the earliest and the latest mid-sleep points among our cohort seem to be suitable.

Statistical analyses Linear mixed-effects regression models are used to analyze the associations between chronotype (continuously in h:mm) as predictor and BMI, body fat, and visceral fat. The same analyses will be performed for social jetlag as predictor.

Multivariable linear and logistic mixed-effects regression models are performed to investigate associations between the chronotype and the circadian patterns of meal timing and physical activity. In second step, multivariable regression analysis is used to examine if the assocation between chronotype and body composition is mediated by the circadian patterns of both meal timing and physical activity. All basic models will be adjusted for age and additionally adjusted for potentially confounders which were considered as statistically significant.