Carlos Solis
A new seven-year study by a team at the University of Sorbonne Paris-Nord followed 100,000 volunteers. Each participant filled out 15 food diaries, meticulously recording their meal times on weekdays and weekends.
One-third of the participants ate before 8:00 PM; another third ate between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM; and the final third ate after 9:00 PM.
Over the course of seven years, researchers documented nearly 2,000 cases of cardiovascular disease, including strokes.
Among volunteers who dined after 9:00 PM, strokes or mini-strokes occurred 28 percent more often.
What the Researchers Found
The researchers say late digestion of food raises blood pressure.
Elevated blood pressure in the evening, when it is typically lower, can over time damage blood vessels and increase the risk of clot formation, leading to strokes and heart attacks.
“My grandmother warned me not to eat too late, and this study shows there was some wisdom in that advice,” said Dr. Bernard Sur, the senior author of the study.
He noted that many people today work around the clock, seven days a week, and often don’t have time to eat. As a result, many find themselves eating late at night. “But those who dine late because they think they are too busy to do so earlier are putting their health at risk,” Dr. Sur said. The link between late meals and health problems was strongest in women. The researchers say further studies are needed to confirm these findings, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Key Takeaways
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, examined the risk of strokes and mini-strokes based on meal timing.
In addition to strokes and mini-strokes, the team also looked at the risk of ischemic heart disease. Volunteers who dined after 9:00 PM did not face a higher risk of developing ischemic heart disease compared to those who ate earlier.
However, the results showed that with each additional hour of late dining, the likelihood of a stroke or mini-stroke increased by 8 percent, while all types of cardiovascular disease rose by 6 percent.
The connection between meal timing and heart issues was primarily observed in women, which may be partly due to the fact that about 80 percent of the volunteers were female.
The only significant finding for men was that with each additional hour of late eating, the risk of developing ischemic heart disease increased by 11 percent.
Like previous studies on this topic, the research suggests that prolonged fasting overnight can benefit health. Each extra hour of fasting overnight was associated with a 7 percent reduction in the risk of stroke or mini-stroke.
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