A review study published in the journal Current Nutrition Reports on October 21, 2025 revealed that the timing of food intake is no less important than its quality in influencing the risk of colorectal cancer, one of the most common types of cancer in the world.
According to the analysis conducted by a team of researchers from European and American universities, irregular eating patterns – such as skipping breakfast, eating late at night, or irregular fasting – may lead to an imbalance in the body’s biological clock, which is linked to hormonal changes and metabolic disturbances that may promote the growth of cancer cells.
The researchers pointed out that epidemiological data collected from more than 120,000 participants in long-term studies showed that people who eat their meals at fixed times daily have a significant decrease in indicators of inflammation and markers of oxidative stress compared to those with intermittent or delayed eating patterns.
The study also showed that synchronizing meals with the body’s daily rhythm (circadian rhythm) helps regulate the secretion of insulin and digestive hormones, which reflects positively on the health of the digestive system and reduces the possibility of cellular changes that cause cancer.
“The biological clock not only regulates sleep, but also controls digestion and metabolism, and any disruption in this system may have profound effects on gut health,” said lead researcher Dr. Mariana Valdes from the Autonomous University of Madrid.
The study recommended the need to conduct broader clinical trials to determine the optimal time periods for eating meals, stressing that adherence to a regular eating schedule may become an important preventive element in addition to a balanced diet and physical activity.
