Is breakfast consumption detrimental, unnecessary, or an opportunity for health promotion? A review of cardiometabolic outcomes and functional food choices

Abstract

Breakfast consumption is generally considered a health‐promoting habit for cardiometabolism, particularly with regard to chrononutrition. Glucose uptake is enhanced by proper insulin secretion triggered by the pancreatic clock, averting metabolic dysregulation related to insulin resistance. Breakfast skipping, in turn, is often considered a behaviour detrimental to health, in part due to putative inverse metabolic actions compared to breakfast consumption, such that breakfast skipping may promote circadian desynchrony. However, most ill health concerns about breakfast skipping are inferred from observational research, and recent well‐controlled randomized clinical trials have shown benefits of breakfast skipping for cardiovascular risk factors. Accordingly, this review describes the effects of breakfast consumption versus breakfast skipping on cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure and glycaemic and lipid indices). In addition, the view of breakfast consumption as an opportunity for functional food ingestion is considered to provide further insights into decision‐making practice. Collectively, both breakfast consumption and breakfast skipping can be considered viable habits, but they depend on individual preferences, planning, and the specific foods being consumed or omitted. When consumed, breakfast should consist primarily of functional foods typical for this meal (e.g., eggs, dairy products, nuts, fruits, whole grains, coffee, tea, etc.). While breakfast consumption aligns with chrononutrition principles, breakfast skipping can contribute to a calorie deficit over time, which has the potential for widespread cardiometabolic benefits for patients with overweight/obesity. The concepts and practical considerations discussed in the present review may aid health care personnel in personalising breakfast consumption recommendations for diverse patient populations.

Effect of skipping breakfast on cardiovascular risk factors: a grade-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies

“…Low-energy and high-energy dTRE reported different effects on lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and chronobiology, which involves hormone, gene, and protein expression levels ( 18 ). Considering that the included literature more closely resembles a regular diet that omits breakfast, maybe changes in energy are more likely to cause statistically significant changes in other cardiovascular risk factors ( 84 – 86 ). Due to the lack of direct evidence, this conjecture was derived indirectly.…”

Chrononutrition in cardiometabolic diseases: Current evidence and future perspectives

“…10 Notably, the special issue also provides a balanced discussion on a topic that has often resulted in significant controversies in the field of nutrition, specifically the role of breakfast consumption and functional foods on cardiometabolic health. 11 Finally, we have decided to include additional articles that do not necessarily relate to the topic of chrononutrition, but that we believe would still provide extremely important information in their related fields of dietetics, nutrition, and cardiometabolic diseases. These articles include discussions on the role of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics, in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus 12 the role of transitioning from a metabolically healthy obesity phenotype to a metabolically unhealthy obesity phenotypes on atherosclerotic risk and its related editorial written by experts in the field, 13,14 the role of pharmacologic and nutritional interventions in patients with post-bariatric surgery-related hypoglycaemia 15 and the effects of microbiome and nutraceutical in patients with type 2 diabetes.…”

“…This article also describes the role of psychosocial stress and exercise and how behavioural interventions can be implemented to improve such factors 10 . Notably, the special issue also provides a balanced discussion on a topic that has often resulted in significant controversies in the field of nutrition, specifically the role of breakfast consumption and functional foods on cardiometabolic health 11 . Finally, we have decided to include additional articles that do not necessarily relate to the topic of chrononutrition, but that we believe would still provide extremely important information in their related fields of dietetics, nutrition, and cardiometabolic diseases.…”

Effects of intermittent fasting combined with exercise on serum leptin and adiponectin in adults with or without obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

“…IF diets have emerged in the management of cardiometabolic disorders in rodents and humans ( 1 , 5 , 20 – 24 ). In addition, the feeding time restriction appears to be a dietary strategy related to the modulation of circadian rhythm and energy metabolism of different organs by orchestrating the secretion of insulin, adiponectin, and leptin while reducing body fat ( 25 – 27 ). Not surprisingly, IF regimens have gained attention in the fields of medicine and sports, in which IF combined with exercise (Exe) has been shown to be a useful non-pharmacological tool to improve body composition (fat loss and muscle maintenance) and markers of cardiovascular and metabolic health ( 5 , 18 , 28 ).…”