Study Finds Time-Restricted Eating May Help Manage Diabetes and Improve Heart Health

Metabolic syndrome includes key risk factors such as elevated blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These factors are critical contributors to poor heart health and are often associated with obesity and other metabolic disorders.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego and the Salk Institute conducted the study, hoping to provide an effective strategy for those seeking to manage their metabolic health and reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Their findings indicate that limiting the eating window could play an essential role in addressing these conditions.

The trial, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, involved 108 adult patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to either a time-restricted eating group or a control group. Both groups continued to receive standard-of-care treatments and nutritional counselling focused on the Mediterranean diet.

The participants in the time-restricted eating group were instructed to limit their food intake to a 10-hour window, starting at least one hour after waking up and finishing at least three hours before going to bed. This regimen allowed them to eat only during those hours, aligning their food intake with the body's natural circadian rhythms.

After three months, patients who adhered to the time-restricted eating schedule showed marked improvements in several key indicators of heart health, particularly in blood sugar control and other metabolic markers.

Satchidananda Panda, a professor at the Salk Institute, explained the critical role of timing in the body’s ability to process sugars and fats. "When people limit their eating window, they re-engage the body’s natural wisdom and harness its daily circadian rhythms to restore metabolism and improve health," Panda said.

The routine not only helped participants manage their blood sugar levels but also led to other benefits such as weight loss and improved body mass index (BMI). The study further noted that time-restricted eating helped reduce abdominal trunk fat—a type of fat closely linked to metabolic diseases like diabetes and heart conditions.

Importantly, participants in the study did not experience significant loss of lean muscle mass, a common concern with many weight loss strategies. This finding reassured researchers that the time-restricted eating method can help people manage weight and metabolic health without compromising muscle mass.

Overall, the study suggests that by adjusting eating habits to fit within a 10-hour window, individuals with diabetes or metabolic syndrome can improve not only their blood sugar control but also their overall health, potentially reducing the risk of more severe conditions in the future.

(with inputs from IANS)