Habitually skipping breakfast is associated with chronic inflammation: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Chronic Disease Epidemiology
• Biomarkers of Inflammation

Background:

• Chronic inflammation is a key factor in many non-communicable diseases.
• Breakfast consumption patterns may influence inflammatory markers.
• High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely used biomarker for systemic inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between breakfast frequency and chronic inflammatory status, assessed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration.
• To explore potential modifying effects of age and diet quality on this association.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 70,092 Chinese adults.
• Breakfast frequency was assessed using a questionnaire.
• Plasma CRP concentrations were measured and analyzed in relation to breakfast habits, adjusting for numerous covariates.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between lower breakfast frequency and elevated CRP concentrations (P-trend < 0.001).
• Individuals skipping breakfast had higher adjusted mean CRP levels compared to those eating breakfast daily.
• The association between skipping breakfast and elevated CRP was more pronounced in older adults and those with poor diet quality.

Conclusions:

• Habitually skipping breakfast is associated with higher concentrations of CRP, indicating increased chronic inflammation.
• These findings suggest that regular breakfast consumption may play a role in managing inflammatory processes.
• Further prospective research is recommended to confirm these associations and explore dietary details.