Barraco GM, Martínez-Lozano N, Vales-Villamarín C, Del Carmen Blaya M, Rios R, Madrid JA, Fardy P, Garaulet M. Circadian health differs between boys and girls as assessed by non-invasive tools in school-aged children.
Clin Nutr 2018;
38:774-781. [PMID:
29609867 DOI:
10.1016/j.clnu.2018.03.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Assessment of circadian health is confined to adults. However, understanding circadian status of school-aged children is necessary due to its health implications. The aim was to develop 1) a protocol to assess circadian function in school-aged children by combining the best non-invasive tools previously validated in adults; 2) a score to capture circadian function in children including food timing. This protocol will allow to explore gender differences and to compare the circadian function of school-aged children with adults from the same Mediterranean area.
METHODS
Healthy children (8-12 y) from 3 schools in a Mediterranean area of Spain were recruited (n = 248; 125 males and 123 females). Several non-invasive tools were used: a) 7-day-diaries of food timing and food intake, physical-activity and sleep, b) Munich-chronotype-self-reported-questionnaire; c) cortisol and melatonin saliva determinations; d) 7-day-rhythms of wrist temperature (T), activity (A), position (P) and the integrative variable TAP e) 7-day-light exposure.
RESULTS
We have constructed the first school-aged children population for the assessment of circadian function (ONTIME-Jr) and a new circadian score has been developed. Among circadian-related measures, TAP was the most suitable and reliable to determine circadian system characteristics. Circadian function was better in girls than in boys [circadian score (AU) Mean ± SD (girls, 1216 ± 153 vs. 1159 ± 173 boys, P = 0.012)], and also in school-aged children than in adults from the same Mediterranean area (Circadian-Function-Index: children 0.47 ± 0.06 vs. adults 0.45 ± 0.06 P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
A new protocol, including TAP and food timing, demonstrated to be reliable in assessing circadian function in children. These non-invasive techniques provide the wherewithal for paediatricians to assess circadian function in clinical practice.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Chronobiology and childhood obesity (ONTIME-Jr: Obesity, Nutrigenetics, Timing and Mediterranean, Junior). ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02895282, October 2014.
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