Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a form of fasting that involves consuming food within a specified time window each day. A recent study found that combining TRE with standard nutritional counseling can lead to improvements in glucose control and weight loss for individuals with metabolic syndrome. Participants in the trial who followed TRE experienced greater reductions in fat mass and hemoglobin A1C levels compared to those who only received standard dietary guidance. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of personalized TRE as a lifestyle intervention supplementing standard nutritional counseling.
The study involved 108 participants who were randomly assigned to either receive standard nutritional advice alone or to follow an 8 to 10-hour eating window in addition to the same advice. The researchers tracked the intervention using the myCircadianClock (mCC) app over a three-month period. The focus was on changes in fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels, which are indicators of glucose control. The findings showed that the group following TRE experienced greater reductions in weight, with a significant portion of the weight loss coming from fat. This suggests that TRE may help prevent muscle loss typically associated with weight loss.
Despite the modest changes observed, the TRE group also showed greater improvements in blood sugar control and HbA1c levels compared to the group receiving standard nutritional guidance alone. This indicates that TRE can have positive effects on glycemic control and cardiometabolic health. Lead author Emily N C Manoogian emphasized that TRE was found to be safe and provided benefits in multiple aspects of metabolic syndrome. The results were comparable to those achieved in the Diabetes Prevention Program, potentially reducing the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes in the future.
Dr. Mir B Ali, a board certified bariatric surgeon, noted that the research aligns with previous studies showing the benefits of intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating for weight management. He highlighted the importance of choosing the right foods for weight loss, but fasting can also play a role in directing the body towards burning fat. Typically, fasting for 8 to 16 hours each day can be effective, with the overnight period being the easiest for most individuals. This research suggests that combining TRE with medications can lead to improvements in glucose regulation, cholesterol levels, and weight.
While more research is needed to further understand the health impacts of TRE, this study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting its benefits, particularly for individuals with metabolic syndrome. The innovative use of the myCircadianClock (mCC) app in tracking the intervention remotely opens up possibilities for larger scale studies in the future. According to Dr. Manoogian, additional studies with longer durations and more participants are necessary to fully comprehend the health effects of TRE. The findings of this study provide promising insights into the potential of time-restricted eating as a practical and effective lifestyle intervention for improving cardiometabolic health.
