Exploring the impact of chronotype, chrononutrition and lifestyle on bladder cancer

The misalignment of sleep and eating patterns with biological cycles is a significant issue that could have detrimental effects on health and is prevalent among cancer patients. Sleep duration, chronotype, and nutrition may be linked to the presence of urothelial tract cancer. Bladder cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the urinary system. The study estimated bladder cancer patients' nutrition behavior, sleep preferences, and chronotype.

101 patients were enrolled. Based on histopathological examination, they were divided into the cancer group (n = 69) and the non-cancer group (n = 32). Lifestyle was assessed through three questionnaires about sleep, chronotype patterns, and chrononutrition behaviors: social jet lag, eating jet lag, eating window, evening and morning latency. The analysis was also completed by assessing salivary alpha-amylase and immunoglobulin A (IgA).

In cancer and non-cancer patients, we did not find differences between the chronotypes (p = 0.0634) or other measured factors. Most of the studied population did not present social or eating jet lag and morning or evening latency. In addition, the total sleep duration in these groups was similar 8.5 (5.0-13.0) vs 9.0 (5.0-11.5) hours per day (p > 0.99). The eating window did not differ between the groups (p = 0.061). Furthermore, the assessment of salivary alpha-amylase 193.9 U/ml (10.2-1173.0) and IgA 129.0 μg/ml (5.1-801.1) (p = 0.43; p = 0.18, respectively) showed no differences.

In this preliminary study, we did not observe a domination of particular types of chronotypes in the cancer and non-cancer groups. Moreover, there were no significant changes in lifestyle and chrononutrition behavior, except weak difference between groups in eating window. However, it provides a robust foundation for further research and clinical applications.