Time-Restricted Eating in Adults With Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Time-restricted eating (TRE) has been shown to produce weight loss and may provide cardiometabolic benefits, but prior studies have focused on relatively healthy adults with obesity. This clinical trial examines the effectiveness of TRE on glycemic control among adults with metabolic syndrome. Visual Abstract. Time-Restricted Eating in Adults With Metabolic Syndrome: Time-restricted eating (TRE) has been shown to produce weight loss and may provide cardiometabolic benefits, but prior studies have focused on relatively healthy adults with obesity. This clinical trial examines the effectiveness of TRE on glycemic control among adults with metabolic syndrome. Background: Time-restricted eating (TRE), limiting daily dietary intake to a consistent 8 to 10 hours without mandating calorie reduction, may provide cardiometabolic benefits. Objective: To determine the effects of TRE as a lifestyle intervention combined with current standard-of-care treatments on cardiometabolic health in adults with metabolic syndrome. Design: Randomized controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04057339) Setting: Clinical research institute. Participants: Adults with metabolic syndrome including elevated fasting glucose or hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ; pharmacotherapy allowed). Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to standard-of-care (SOC) nutritional counseling alone (SOC group) or combined with a personalized 8- to 10-hour TRE intervention (≥4-hour reduction in eating window) (TRE group) for 3 months. Timing of dietary intake was tracked in real time using the myCircadianClock smartphone application. Measurements: Primary outcomes were HbA 1c , fasting glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and glycemic assessments from continuous glucose monitors. Results: 108 participants from the TIMET study completed the intervention (89% of those randomly assigned; 56 women, mean baseline age, 59 years; body mass index of 31.22 kg/m 2 ; eating window of 14.19 hours). Compared with SOC, TRE improved HbA 1c by −0.10% (95% CI, −0.19% to −0.003%). Statistical outcomes were adjusted for age. There were no major adverse events. Limitation: Short duration, self-reported diet, potential for multiple elements affecting outcomes. Conclusion: Personalized 8- to 10-hour TRE is an effective practical lifestyle intervention that modestly improves glycemic regulation and may have broader benefits for cardiometabolic health in adults with metabolic syndrome on top of SOC pharmacotherapy and nutritional counseling. Primary Funding Source: National Institutes of Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]