Weekly variation in markers of cardiometabolic health – the possible effect of weekend behavior – a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Adolescents’ health-related behavior varies from weekday to weekend. Only few studies, however, have examined to which degree such variation will affect markers of cardiometabolic health. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to examine if markers of cardiometabolic health differ between different days of the week in adolescents. Methods This cross-sectional school-based study included up to 581 participants, 11–17 years old. Markers of metabolic health were insulin, glucose, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and blood pressure. Linear mixed regression modelling was used to examine the cardiometabolic profile across weekdays. Results Significant declining trends were observed across the week in adolescents’ levels of cardiometabolic health markers. Lower levels of insulin (16.1%), glucose (2.6%) and triglyceride (24.7%) were observed on Fridays compared to Mondays (p ≤ 0.006). Gradual improvement in measurement profiles across weekdays was less apparent for HDL-C, LDL-C, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (P ≥ 0.06). Analyses stratified by sex suggested a more noticeable pattern of gradual improvement across weekdays in boys than in girls. Conclusion Significantly lower levels of insulin, glucose and triglyceride were observed in adolescents on Fridays compared to Mondays. However, when sex specific analyses were performed significant profile variations were only observed across the week in boys. More research is needed to better understand which behavioral factors in particular seem to influence weekly variation in markers of cardiometabolic health - especially since such variation potentially will have an impact on how assessments of markers of cardiometabolic health optimally should be planned, standardized and carried out, both in research and in medical practice.

Role of Weekday Variation on Glucose, Insulin, and Triglyceride: A Cross-Sectional Analysis From the Maastricht Study

“…In a previous study of Danish adults, we found higher fasting insulin concentrations on Mondays compared to the rest of the weekdays combined ( 10 ). The observed higher fasting insulin concentrations among men and the trend toward higher triglyceride concentrations on Mondays compared to other weekdays in this study are also in line with a previous study of 581 adolescents, showing a declining trend across the week in concentrations of plasma glucose, insulin, and serum triglycerides ( 12 ). Another study in children aged 8 to 11 years found higher insulin resistance and higher concentrations of triglycerides on Mondays compared to Friday ( 9 ).…”

“…However, sex differences in fasting glucose and insulin concentrations in general is a well-known phenomenon ( 22 , 23 ). In line with this, a study in adolescents found higher variation in insulin across the week in boys than in girls ( 12 ). This sex difference may suggest that (1) men have another weekend behavior than women, (2) weekend behavior is acutely affecting metabolism stronger in men than women, or (3) it is a spurious finding caused by, for example, residual confounding.…”

“…Several studies have observed lower triglyceride concentrations on Fridays compared to Mondays with differences of 5% to 28% ( 9 , 11 , 12 ). Taken together this points to an adverse effect of weekend behavior on triglyceride concentrations.…”

“…Taken together this points to an adverse effect of weekend behavior on triglyceride concentrations. These studies were performed in children ( 9 ) or adolescents ( 12 ) or on samples collected as part of routine care ( 11 ); it would therefore be interesting to examine this in an adult population sampled from the general population.…”

Current State of Food Prescriptions Used to Treat Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in the US Adult Population

“…For example, a reliable indicator of cardiometabolic health is total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol, which should be measured in future experiments [ 25 ]. Additionally, insulin, glucose, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol are all great markers of cardiometabolic health that can be measured in the future [ 26 ].…”