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Time-Restricted Feeding and Human Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2025 | Viewed by 397

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Interests: time-restricted feeding (TRF); circadian rhythms; metabolic health; intermittent fasting; obesity; chronic disease prevention; weight management; human nutrition; chrononutrition; aging and longevity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) has emerged as a promising approach to improving metabolic health and longevity, with growing evidence suggesting that the timing of food intake plays a pivotal role in regulating biological processes. This Special Issue seeks to explore the intersection between TRF and human health, focusing on its effects across a range of physiological systems, including metabolic function, circadian rhythms, weight management, and the prevention of chronic disease.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a comprehensive overview of current research, examining the underlying mechanisms through which TRF influences human health, as well as the potential clinical applications and public health implications of this dietary strategy. We welcome original research, reviews, and meta-analyses that explore the benefits and challenges associated with TRF in diverse populations, including those with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and aging.

This field holds the potential to significantly improve public health, particularly as the prevalence of metabolic diseases continues to rise. As such, this Special Issue will highlight novel findings, methodological advances, and the translation of TRF interventions into clinical practice. We invite researchers to contribute to this dynamic and rapidly growing area of study, shaping the future of nutritional strategies for the promotion of health and well-being.

Dr. Han Shi Jocelyn Chew
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • time-restricted feeding (TRF)
  • circadian rhythms
  • metabolic health
  • intermittent fasting
  • obesity
  • chronic disease prevention
  • weight management
  • human nutrition
  • chrononutrition
  • aging and longevity
  • cardiometabolic health
  • intermittent fasting
  • circadian rhythms
  • health behavior change
  • digital health
  • artificial intelligence

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

23 pages, 4863 KiB  
Review
The Effectiveness of Time-Restricted Eating as an Intermittent Fasting Approach on Shift Workers’ Glucose Metabolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Jia Ying Jennell Koh, Celine Yu Han Tan, Meng Li, Mei Hui Liu and Han Shi Jocelyn Chew
Nutrients 2025, 17(10), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17101689 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 144
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Shift workers face higher risks of impaired glucose metabolism due to irregular eating habits and circadian misalignment. Time-restricted eating (TRE) could improve glucose metabolism by aligning food intake with the circadian clock, but its effectiveness remains unclear. Methods: Ten electronic [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Shift workers face higher risks of impaired glucose metabolism due to irregular eating habits and circadian misalignment. Time-restricted eating (TRE) could improve glucose metabolism by aligning food intake with the circadian clock, but its effectiveness remains unclear. Methods: Ten electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Science.gov, and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched from journal inception to September 2024. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving shift workers were included. Meta-analyses with sensitivity analyses were conducted using a random-effects model to pool glucose metabolism and sleep outcomes, with heterogeneity and quality assessments performed. Results: Six RCTs were included. TRE demonstrated positive but non-significant effects on glucose metabolism outcomes: fasting blood glucose (weighted mean difference [WMD]: −0.02 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.13 to 0.10, I2 = 0%), fasting blood insulin (WMD: −5.77 pmol/L, 95% CI: −85.62 to 74.08, I2 = 92%), HOMA-IR (WMD: −0.50, 95% CI: −2.76 to 1.76, I2 = 82%), 2 h postprandial glucose (WMD: −0.65 mmol/L, 95% CI: −3.18 to 1.89, I2 = 86%), total sleep time (g = 0.07, 95% CI: −0.23 to 0.37, I2 = 0%), and sleep efficiency (g = −0.05, 95% CI: −0.63 to 0.53, I2 = 62%). Sensitivity analyses yielded similar findings, and overall certainty of evidence was rated ‘very low’. Conclusions: While TRE shows potential for improving the glucose metabolism in shift workers, current evidence remains inconclusive due to small sample sizes and study limitations. Future research should prioritize well-powered TRE RCTs in shift workers that adhere to a 6–10 h eating window. Incorporating early-TRE schedules with sleep hygiene may optimize metabolic outcomes, with circadian biomarkers analyzed to better elucidate the mechanistic pathway implicated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Time-Restricted Feeding and Human Health)
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