Time of Day Effect on Pesticides Metabolism and Toxicity

The CIRCA-CHEM study is a non-pharmacological, randomized cross-over health intervention trial studying the effect of the time of day on the metabolism and concomitant toxicity of exposures to pesticides found in a balanced fruits and vegetables diet, providing the same weekly portions of fruit and vegetables (isopesticide dietary scheme) but consumed in two different time windows (morning vs. night).

The investigator's study is a 2x2 randomized cross over trial. All participants will be randomly allocated to one of the two groups (morning vs night or night first and then morning; Groups A and B, respectively) having to daily consume an isopesticide dietary pattern (4:2 portions of fruits:vegetables) within a specific, time-restricted window for a week and repeat the same procedure within a different time-restricted window for another week after an in between wash-out period of one week. Morning time-restriction window is set to be between 9am until 12pm and nighttime-restriction window is set between 7pm until 10pm, respectively. Participants will be called to start time-restriction based on group allocation.

In order for all participants to enter the study at a baseline level of pesticide load they will be asked to undergo a run-in day where no fruit and vegetable consumption is allowed prior the onset of the study. Within the first week of the study, Group A (n=25) will consume fruits and vegetables within time-restriction morning window (9am-12pm) and Group B (n=25) will consume fruits and vegetables within time-restriction night window (7pm-10pm). After washout week period where participants will be called to return to their usual dietary habits, two groups will swap to the opposite time-restriction window.

All participants should collect first morning urine samples on specific days during the first week (1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th day) and during the third week (1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th day). Day indicated as "8th", represents the first day of the following week (first day of the wash-out week and first day of the fourth week which is the last day of the study). The participants are asked to consume 4 portions of fruit and 2 portions of vegetables per day during the two trial periods. The fruits selected for the study that will take place during winter season of 2020 are: a pear (\~180g), a red apple (\~170g), a banana (\~110g) and an orange (\~400g). The vegetables selected include a tomato (\~200g), two cucumbers (\~240g) and lettuce (1 cup,4 chopped). All fruits and vegetables will be freshly and seasonally produced in Cyprus. Overall, dietary daily consumption of foods and fluids will be monitored with the use of a dietary diary throughout the study. Participants will also be asked to take a photograph of the ready to be consumed fruit and vegetable on actual time of consumption and share photos with research team in order to verify at a minimum whether the pre-set time-restriction criteria have been met.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy adults (absence of any self-reported chronic or other known disease)
2. Age:18-60
3. Normal to overweight individuals (18.5 ≤ BMI \<30)
4. Permanent residents of Cyprus for the past 5 years

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Chronically ill individuals (subjects with no self-reported chronic diseases)
2. Age \<18 years
3. Obese individuals (BMI ≥30)
4. Pregnant or lactating women
5. Individuals with food allergies
6. Systematic organic consuming individuals (more than 80% of their weekly meals)
7. Individuals working shift schedule or having chronic sleep symptoms