Original pilot study and review: Effects of time of birth on future risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes

Background. Dr. Halberg, the Lord of Time, showed that all biological functions, including gene functions, follow a circadian rhythm. An earlier study revealed that births in September to November may program increased longevity up to 100 years. Recent studies showed that risk factors can predispose trans-generational inheritance of diseases or health from parents to offspring. This study examined the role of time of birth on the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other chronic diseases. Subjects and Methods. The pilot study included 100 adults aged 20 years and above to investigate any association of time of birth with future risk of CVDs and diabetes. After approval from the local Hospital Ethics Committee and obtaining written informed consent, subjects 20 years and older were recruited for the study. The sample size was based on known prevalence of hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke and diabetes in the populations concerned. It was estimated that at least 9% of the population, aged 25 years and above, had any one or more of the above diseases. Time of birth for each subject was obtained from the individual's horoscope, in which the exact time and date of birth were recorded at the time of birth. The presence of diseases was recorded based on available records of diagnosis and treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to determine whether the time of birth predicts risk factors associated with various diseases. Results. The results of the study have shown that the incidence of hypertension, prehypertension and diabetes as well as prediabetes was lower among subjects who were born during the nighttime (18:00 to 6:00) compared to subjects who were born during the daytime (6:00 to 18:00). The second quarter of the day (06:00-12:00) is associated with increased sympathetic activity with its adverse effects, whereas the first quarter of the day (12:00-06:00) is associated with increased parasympathetic and low sympathetic activity with corresponding protective effectson the fetus, mother and newborn. An infant born in the second quarter may be exposed to high concentrations of catecholamines, cortisol, oxidative stress and inflammation, with low melatonin, which can damage the genome and epigenome as well as other tissues of the offspring, resulting in greater risk of diseases later in adult life. However, if the child is born during the first quarter of the day, this span is associated with increased concentrations of acetylcholine, nitric oxide and antioxidants in the tissues which have protective effects against diseases. Conclusions. Infants born in the first quarter of the 24-hour day may have lower risks of CVDs and other chronic diseases, whereas those born in the second quarter may have higher risks of diseases later in adult life. © Nova Science Publishers, Inc.