Skipping Breakfast Increases Heart Disease Risk

DALLASSkipping breakfast may increase the risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease, according to a new study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation. Timing of meals may also raise the risk for heart disease, whether it's missing a morning meal or eating late at night.

The 16-year study involved 26,902 male health professionals from ages 45 to 82 years. Researchers used a food frequency questionnaire to track their health and found the men who reported skipping breakfast had a 27% higher risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease than those who reported they did eat breakfast.

Men who reported not eating breakfast were also younger than those who did, and were more likely to be smokers, employed full-time, unmarried, less physically active, and they also drank more alcohol.

Those who ate late at night (after going to bed) had a 55% higher coronary heart disease risk than those who didnt. However, researchers were less convinced this was a major public health concern because few men in the study reported this behavior.

During the study, 1,572 of the men had first-time cardiac events.

Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time," said Leah Cahill, Ph.D., lead author and postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Men who reported eating breakfast ate an average of one more time per day compared to those who skipped breakfast, implying that those who abstained from breakfast were not eating additional make-up meals later in the day. Although there was some overlap between those who skipped breakfast and those who ate late at night, 76% of late-night eaters also ate breakfast, researchers said.

The study also accounted for many important factors, such as TV watching, physical activity, sleep, diet quality, alcohol intake, medical history, BMI and social factors (whether or not the men worked full-time, were married, saw their doctor regularly for physical exams or smoked currently or in the past).

 Dont skip breakfast," Cahill said. Eating breakfast is associated with a decreased risk of heart attacks. Incorporating many types of healthy foods into your breakfast is an easy way to ensure your meal provides adequate energy and a healthy balance of nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals."

Incorporating protein-rich eggs into one's breakfast can provide health benefits, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, while also increasing satiety. Or, try adding nuts to a morning meal of fruit or oatmeal; individuals who consume nuts have increased longevity and reduce their risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.