Does the timing and frequency of meals impact caloric and macronutrient intake in pregnant women?

A cohort study of 100 pregnant women found that dinner time is positively associated with total energy intake during the first and third trimesters.

• Total energy intake, proteins, and carbohydrates showed positive associations with dinner time during the first and third trimesters, except for protein intake in the third trimester.
• Total fat intake correlated positively with dinner time across all gestational trimesters.
• In all trimesters, positive associations were observed between total energy intake, fat, and carbohydrates with both eating duration and the number of eating episodes.
• Pregnant women who ate later and more frequently tended to consume higher calorie amounts.
• Chrononutritional parameters related to late eating may be linked to increased total energy intake during pregnancy.

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