ORCID

0000-0002-8163-0527 (Carbone)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

DOI

10.1152/japplphysiol.00443.2025

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Physiology

Volume

140

Issue

1

Pages

236-250

Abstract

Lifestyle intervention is critical for young adults with early-stage hypertension. A Western diet has negative effects on kidney function and blood pressure; however, time-of-day effects are understudied. We hypothesized that consumption of a Western-style meal that is misaligned with the endogenous circadian rhythm would have adverse effects on blood pressure, kidney function, and vascular function. Ten young adults with elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension (means ± SD: 26 ± 8 yr, 50% female) underwent a randomized crossover, isocaloric controlled feeding intervention. Participants were allocated to receive a Western-style meal high in sodium, sugar, and saturated fat in the morning (MMC) or the evening (EMC). Participants completed 24-h urine collection and simultaneous 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Daytime fractional excretion of sodium was greater after MMC compared with EMC (MMC vs. EMC: 0.84 ± 0.28 vs. 0.35 ± 0.13%, P = 0.008). However, nighttime sodium excretion was not elevated after EMC (0.48 ± 0.24 vs. 0.39 ± 0.30%, P = 0.314), suggestive of overnight sodium retention. There were increased systolic (126 ± 6 vs. 121 ± 6 mmHg, P = 0.028), diastolic (80 ± 4 vs. 77 ± 6.4 mmHg, P = 0.028), and mean arterial (95 ± 5 vs. 91 ± 6 mmHg, P = 0.028) blood pressures during waking hours of MMC. Following consumption of the EMC, nocturnal blood pressure elevation was mitigated, presumably through protective sodium storage mechanisms (systolic pressure dipping: 15 ± 5 vs. 12 ± 5%, P = 0.249). Resting systolic blood pressure was increased the morning following EMC (119 ± 8 vs.121.8 ± 9 mmHg, P = 0.018). The findings suggest that in young adults with early-stage hypertension, a misaligned Western-style meal consumed late at night results in extended sodium retention and nocturnal blood pressure control was uncoupled from renal-mediated mechanisms.

Data Availability

Article states: "Data will be made available upon reasonable request and in accordance with prespecified IRB approvals for data sharing."

Original Publication Citation

Bohmke, N. J., Barton, B., Wiecek, P., Rodriguez-Miguelez, P., Dixon, D. L., Kim, Y., Carbone, S., & Kirkman, D. L. (2026). Chronobiology of meal timing in early-stage hypertension: A controlled feeding pilot study investigating the effects on renal and vascular function. Journal of Applied Physiology, 140(1), 236-250. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00443.2025

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