Mapping the scientific literature on food and eating in relation to Circadian Syndrome: a scoping review protocol

This project is a scoping review protocol designed to map and characterize the scientific literature on food and eating in relation to Circadian Syndrome (CircS). CircS has been proposed as a comprehensive clinical construct characterized by disrupted biological rhythms, encompassing all components of Metabolic Syndrome while also integrating additional factors such as reduced sleep duration and depressive symptoms. The review will examine food and eating broadly, including foods and food groups, dietary patterns, diet quality, nutrient and energy intake, eating behaviors, meal frequency and timing, night eating, fasting, time-restricted eating. The primary objective is to identify and describe how these dimensions have been investigated in relation to Circadian Syndrome, including the populations and contexts studied, the concepts and exposures assessed, the definitions and measurement methods used, the study designs, and the main outcomes reported. The review will follow established methodological guidance for scoping reviews, including the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, and will be reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR statement.