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Limiting food intake with time does it work?

A new study examines whether time-restricted eating results in positive health. AleksandarNakic/Getty Images

• The research conducted on animals has been shown to have significant metabolic benefits from restricted feeding.
• The first human research suggests that these findings may be beneficial to humans.
• A recent study looked at the evidence collected from both human and animal studies.
• The authors suggest more research is required to identify the ways in which restricted eating patterns can be beneficial and viable for humans.

Researchers have examined the evidence supporting healthy eating time-restricted -it is a kind of intermittent fasting, in which individuals consume food only within the same duration each day.

The review, posted in the quarterly journal of Endocrine Society, Endocrine Reviews researchers looked into animal research as well as the first human studies. They found evidence that limiting consumption of food during meals can aid in the prevention of and treatment for many metabolic diseases.

But, they insist on further substantive studies to determine the positive effects of a time-restricted diet on food consumption on humans as well as to understand the mechanisms behind these effects.

Circadian rhythm

The concept of time-restricted eating has received significant attention by researchers over the past few years. When eating restricted by the duration of time, people typically consume their usual diet but only for a particular time frame each day. It can range from six to twelve hours.

Scientists have proved the advantages of eating a time-restricted diet, particularly for mice, in research. There are however numerous tests with human participants which have shown positive results.

The writer who is connected to Prof. Satchidananda Panda from the Regulatory Biology Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, CA, interviewed Medical News Today. He noted that time-restricted food studies on animals have revealed the potential health benefits of eating with a time limit for humans.

"Animal studies so far have revealed that eating restricted for a certain amount of time affects various organs, and even the microbiome of the gut in a positive way. Numerous pathways and molecules associated with metabolic disorders, like prediabetes and diabetes, adiposity [...], fat liver disease, as well as certain cancers, are controlled in a positive manner by eating with a time limit," Dr. Panda.

According to the authors of the current review one of the major benefits of a strictly controlled diet is that it could help individuals regain their disturbed circadian rhythm.

Circadian rhythms are an assortment of bodily functions that take place in a 24-hour periodTrusted Source. Professor. Panda and his coworkers observe that circadian rhythms develop due to changes in light, temperature, and humidity, in addition to the availability of nutrients during the cycle of the earth's night and day cycles.

When someone experiences disturbance in their circadian rhythm and is prone to suffering from various health issues, such as cancers, metabolic diseases, problems with the hormones, the immune system, and reproductive problems.

Modern living patterns have the potential to alter the circadian rhythm in many ways. According to Dr. Panda and his colleagues 40 percent of people are employed, caring for people, and socializing in the late hours, which causes the circadian rhythm of the body to be disrupted.

It is the rhythm of your circadian cycle and also fasting.

The primary cause for this disorder could be an increase in consumption of food that is not the amount your body is used to according to its circadian rhythm. It occurs during the night, rather than during the daytime.

Professor. Panda and his associates discuss their findings that the circadian rhythms that affect peripheral organs and most of our brains are specifically affected by the timing of food intake.

Additionally, restricting consumption of food with a set time that includes the night fasting stage could support cycles of circadian rhythms. It could also reduce the likelihood of negative consequences for health that an unbalanced circadian rhythm might cause.

Professor. Panda and his team are also highlighting the way that studies on mice have demonstrated that time-restricted eating can decrease the amount of adipose tissue in the body and improve gut health.

Researchers have noted that there are only a few human studies investigating the benefits of strict diets. The initial findings of these studies show positive outcomes observed in animal models, like decreasing body weight and the waist circumference of the waist as well as Body mass index.

Professor. Dorothy Sears from the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine also spoke with MNT..

Professor. Sears is an expert on eating habits that are limited to a certain time and the circadian rhythm. She stated that she is of the opinion that Dr. Panda and his colleagues study "is a thorough review article that summarizes the accumulating evidence that alignment of food intake with the body's biological rhythms promotes health."

Ideal eating window?

The research currently being conducted can also help determine the ideal time of day to reduce portions of meals consumed.

A conversation with MNT, Professor. Panda explained "The human studies have tested 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-hour time-restricted eating, and these studies show some dose responses."

"Four- and 6-hour time-restricted eating can have many benefits among [people with overweight and obesity], but it also reduces quality of life due to its adverse effects on feeling excessive hunger, dizziness, headache, and nausea, etc."

"Eight- and 10-hour time-restricted eating windows are well tolerated, yield several benefits, and people voluntarily adopt such practices long term. "

"Twelve-hour time-restricted eating may not produce immediate benefits within a few months, but we do not know in the long term if it could impart some benefits."

According to Prof. Sears, "There is insufficient research evidence that supports any particular regimen, e.g., best time of day to start/stop eating or how many 'eating' hours per day."

"Promising evidence from Dr. Panda's lab in mice supports that an occasional 'day off' from time-restricted eating, or eating at night may still confer benefit in humans," Professor. Sears.MEDICAL NEWS Today's NEWSLETTERKnowledge can be a source of power. Sign up to our daily newsletter for free.

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However, Professor. Panda said to MNT that certain people must seek the advice of a physician prior to starting an eating plan that is time-bound.

"Most people and their caregivers believe that it's safe for everyone from teens to seniors to eat a restricted diet for 12 hours every day. Time-restricted eating for ten hours is possible for those who do not suffer from a chronic illness," said Prof. Panda.

"For those suffering from type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases restricted eating for 10 hours or less [...] might require medical supervision to prevent hypoglycemia or medication adjustments. In the same way, those with other chronic illnesses should consult their doctor prior to starting eating for 8 or 10 hours. eating."

"Time-restricted eating for 6 or 4 hours is not recommended for the majority of people. A short time frame for eating could also result in a significant reduction in the daily intake of calories or the consumption of specific macro- or micronutrients. This type of restricted eating for short periods of time may be unsustainable over the long run," said Prof. Panda.

Professor. Sears confirmed this by declaring in an interview with the MNT that "overall the time-restricted diet appears to be safe for the majority of people, not just those suffering from type 2 diabetes. ."

"Some patients report minor temporary side effects like lightheadedness or nausea. Due to the limited studies, self-reported compliance and the variety of regimens further research is required to evaluate these effects fully."

"People with conditions that impact metabolism -- for example, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and pregnancy -- should consult their healthcare provider before starting a regimen that includes fasting for longer than overnight," Dr. Sears.

Future research

Professor. Panda explained to MNT that scientists must undertake more research to better know the advantages of an a diet that is time-bound for animals as well as humans.

"Most restricted eating studies were conducted on male mice in their early years. We need to extend these studies to include both genders as well as older mice."

"Many benefits of eating restricted in time point to changes in the molecular structure of multiple organs, yet we don't know the nature of those changes. Therefore, more in-depth molecular studies across multiple organs are required to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of eating restrictions on time."

"Although time-restricted eating may appear easy to adopt, many find it difficult [...] So implementation research on finding personal, interpersonal, cultural, work-related, and societal barriers to adopting time-restricted eating [is] needed," Professor. Panda.

Professor. Sears, larger and more thorough studies will be required to understand how best to implement the time-restricted dietary plan.

Professor. Sears declared"that "randomized controlled trials that are large in sample size are essential to accurately assess different times of food intake and the related health effects. The majority of controlled randomized studies have been limited to very few people, and therefore, the results from these studies are not reliable."

"There are several large trials now funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense to test benefits of circadian-aligned food intake timing," stated Professor. Sears. "Results from these should be illuminating and provide more statistically robust interpretations to guide public health recommendations."