A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study on the Short-Term Impact of Meal Frequency on Bone Remodeling in Healthy Adults

Background: Bone remodeling is a continuous process involving the actions of osteoclasts followed by osteoblasts, which mineralize the newly synthesized bone matrix. There is a growing recognition of the influence of dietary patterns on bone remodeling, with implications for overall bone health. Meal frequency is a crucial factor affecting bone metabolism. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the impact of meal frequency on Procollagen Type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), a marker of bone remodeling. Methods: A total of 30 healthy adult males aged 19 to 30 years from Jordan were recruited through informational flyers and participated in a randomized controlled intervention trial. Participants were randomly assigned to either three or eight meals per day for three consecutive days (Phase 1). After a one-week washout period, the participants were switched to the alternate meal frequency for another three days (Phase 2). Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 3 days of both Phase 1 and Phase 2, with P1NP levels measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay". Results: Changes in meal frequency significantly impacted the blood bone formation biomarker P1NP in both phases, as indicated by a notable decrease compared to baseline (20.40 ± 7.85 mcg/L and 21.12 ± 4.17 mcg/L versus 28.90 ± 9.06 mcg/L) (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the P1NP results for the 3-meal and 8-meal groups (P=0.663). Notably, despite the differences in the calculations (20.40 ± 7.85 mcg/L vs. 21.12 ± 4.17 mcg/L, respectively), we did not observe significant differences. In conclusion: This study demonstrated the significant impact of meal frequency on the blood bone formation biomarker P1NP, revealing a consistent decrease in both phases compared to baseline. While no substantial differences were observed between the 3-meal and 8-meal groups, these findings contribute valuable insights into the intricate relationship between dietary patterns and bone metabolism, emphasizing the need for further research to elucidate the nuanced dynamics of the effect of meal frequency on bone health.