Effect of meal timing and frequency on lipid profile in adults: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Purpose Dyslipidaemia is an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Calorie restriction and adopting a heart-healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet are the main dietary interventions for dyslipidaemia. Other dietary behaviours, such as changes in meal frequency and timing, are not included in the major dietary advice guidelines despite the potential correlation between eating patterns and lipid metabolism. This overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses aims to summarise the effect of meal timing and frequency on lipid profile and make possible recommendations on which meal timing pattern is superior in reducing lipid levels. Design/methodology/approach According to the protocol published on PROSPERO (CRD42021248956), five databases were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the effects of meal timing and frequency on lipid profile in adults. Findings Five reviews were included, with two reviews on breakfast skipping and meal frequency, respectively, and one review on night-time eating. Increasing meal frequency while maintaining the total calorie intake was reported to reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels with low- to moderate-quality evidence. There was a correlation between breakfast skipping and an undesirable increase in LDL levels with low-quality evidence. However, there needs to be more high-quality evidence to conclude the effect of dietary behaviours on blood lipid levels. Originality/value This overview provides a comprehensive summary of evidence examining the effects of meal timing and frequency on adult lipid profiles. The current low- or moderate-quality evidence could not support the recommendation of alteration of meal frequency as an alternative to conventional non-pharmacological treatments for dyslipidaemia.