Meal Timing for Metabolic Health

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen by Lisa Chow, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: University of Minnesota

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Comorbid conditions, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is an observational study to address the important knowledge gap of the metabolic and inflammatory impact of acute overeating and whether timing of acute overeating may modify these effects. The hypothesis is that acute overconsumption of calories will promote inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, with the most detrimental effects observed with evening caloric overconsumption. The expectation is that this study to provide critical insights into the biological consequences of overeating, which will direct novel approaches combating overeating and its detrimental health effects.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment involving meal timing for metabolic health?

Research suggests that meal timing can influence metabolic health, with studies indicating that eating earlier in the day and increasing fasting periods between meals may help with weight control and improve metabolic health. Additionally, consuming more calories in the evening is linked to higher chances of obesity and metabolic syndrome. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is meal timing generally safe for humans?

Research suggests that meal timing, such as starting to eat earlier in the day, is associated with better metabolic health, like lower blood sugar levels and improved insulin resistance, indicating it is generally safe for humans. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

How does meal timing differ from other treatments for metabolic health?

Meal timing is unique because it focuses on when you eat rather than what you eat, which can influence your body's metabolism and help manage weight and metabolic health. Unlike traditional treatments that may focus on diet composition or medication, this approach emphasizes the timing of meals to potentially improve health outcomes. ^{2 3 4 5 10}

Research Team

Lisa Chow, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Minnesota

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals aged 18-30 with a normal BMI (18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2) and a weight of at least 120 lbs. Participants should not be pregnant or have any comorbid conditions.

Inclusion Criteria

Normal BMI (18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2)

Weight ≥120 lbs self-reported weight

I am between 18 and 30 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

N/A

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Observation

Participants are observed for metabolic and inflammatory effects of acute overeating

8 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after observation

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Meals (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial Overview The ChronoMet study observes the metabolic and inflammatory effects of overeating, especially focusing on whether eating more in the evening has worse effects than other times.

Participant Groups

Group I: Experimental group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

60 young (age 18-65), healthy, normal body mass index subjects for this study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Minnesota

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,459

Recruited

1,623,000+

Shashank Priya

University of Minnesota

Chief Executive Officer since 2023

PhD in Materials Engineering from Penn State

Charles Semba

University of Minnesota

Chief Medical Officer since 2021

MD from the University of Minnesota Medical School

Findings from Research

In a study of 80 adults with type-2 diabetes, it was found that eating more energy later in the day (especially in the evening) was linked to higher total food and energy intake, which could negatively impact metabolic control.

Conversely, consuming a higher proportion of carbohydrates earlier in the day was associated with lower overall energy intake, suggesting that timing meals earlier may help manage dietary and metabolic health in patients with type-2 diabetes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meal timing across the day modulates daily energy intake in adult patients with type 2 diabetes. Chamorro, R., Basfi-Fer, K., Sepúlveda, B., et al.[2022]

In a study of 850 adults, a higher frequency of eating occasions and snacks was linked to an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), with odds ratios indicating a significant risk (OR 1.72 for eating occasions, OR 1.34 for snacks).

Despite the increased eating frequency, the overall diet quality, measured by the food quality score, did not differ significantly across different eating patterns, suggesting that more frequent eating may negatively impact metabolic health regardless of diet quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Joint association of meal frequency and diet quality with metabolic syndrome in Iranian adults. Azizi, N., Shab-Bidar, S., Bazshahi, E., et al.[2022]

Korean adults who consume a higher proportion of their daily energy intake in the evening are at greater risk for obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS), as shown by a study analyzing data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Specifically, individuals in the group with the highest evening energy intake had the worst diet quality and the highest body mass index, waist circumference, and levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, indicating a strong link between meal timing and metabolic health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Higher energy consumption in the evening is associated with increased odds of obesity and metabolic syndrome: findings from the 2016-2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (7 th KNHANES). Jeong, S., Lee, H., Jung, S., et al.[2023]

The reliability of estimating meal timing parameters, such as overnight fasting duration and eating episodes, is generally poor with a single 24-hour dietary recall, indicating that more frequent assessments are needed for accurate measurements.

To achieve reliable estimates of meal timing variables, at least three 24-hour dietary recalls over a period of 1 to 3 years are necessary, as shown in studies involving nearly 1,855 participants across different cohorts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reliability estimates for assessing meal timing derived from longitudinal repeated 24-hour dietary recalls. Peterson, L., Lee, H., Huybrechts, I., et al.[2023]

In a study of 7619 participants from the NHANES survey, earlier eating start times were linked to lower fasting glucose levels and reduced insulin resistance, suggesting that when you eat may be as important as how long you eat.

The research found that for every hour later meals were started, fasting glucose levels increased by about 0.6% and insulin resistance (measured by HOMA-IR) increased by 3%, highlighting the potential impact of meal timing on metabolic health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Associations between Timing and Duration of Eating and Glucose Metabolism: A Nationally Representative Study in the U.S. Ali, M., Reutrakul, S., Petersen, G., et al.[2023]

Irregular eating patterns, such as skipping meals and frequent snacking, are linked to negative effects on cardiometabolic health, including obesity and insulin resistance.

Intentional and mindful eating, focusing on the timing and frequency of meals, may help improve cardiometabolic risk factors and promote a healthier lifestyle.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meal Timing and Frequency: Implications for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. St-Onge, MP., Ard, J., Baskin, ML., et al.[2022]

A study involving 93 healthy adults used a novel cell-phone approach to track food and beverage intake over 21 days, revealing that most people do not follow the traditional three meals a day pattern, with over 30% of calories consumed in the evening and late night.

The findings suggest that more than 50% of participants spread their caloric intake over 15 hours or longer, indicating a potential disruption in daily eating patterns that may contribute to the rising rates of metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A camera-phone based study reveals erratic eating pattern and disrupted daily eating-fasting cycle among adults in India. Gupta, NJ., Kumar, V., Panda, S.[2019]

In a study of 956 health workers, those with poorer mealtime habits had over 10 times the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance (IR) compared to those with better habits.

Specifically, participants in the lower Mealtime Habits Quality (MHQ) category were found to have an 8.8 to 11.2 times greater risk of developing MetS and IR, highlighting the significant impact of mealtime behaviors on metabolic health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mealtime habits and risk of developing the metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance among Mexican adults. Méndez-Hernández, P., Dosamantes-Carrasco, LD., Siani, C., et al.[2022]

In a study of 229 women with overweight or obesity, longer daily eating intervals were linked to higher energy intake and increased waist circumference, suggesting that eating timing can significantly impact dietary habits and body composition.

Time-restricted eating was associated with lower energy intake and glycemic load, indicating that adjusting when we eat may be a useful strategy for improving metabolic health and managing weight.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Eating Timing: Associations with Dietary Intake and Metabolic Health. Taetzsch, A., Roberts, SB., Bukhari, A., et al.[2021]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meal timing across the day modulates daily energy intake in adult patients with type 2 diabetes. [2022]

2. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Metabolic impacts of altering meal frequency and timing - Does when we eat matter? [2017]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Joint association of meal frequency and diet quality with metabolic syndrome in Iranian adults. [2022]

4. Korea (South) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Higher energy consumption in the evening is associated with increased odds of obesity and metabolic syndrome: findings from the 2016-2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (7 th KNHANES). [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reliability estimates for assessing meal timing derived from longitudinal repeated 24-hour dietary recalls. [2023]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Associations between Timing and Duration of Eating and Glucose Metabolism: A Nationally Representative Study in the U.S. [2023]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meal Timing and Frequency: Implications for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A camera-phone based study reveals erratic eating pattern and disrupted daily eating-fasting cycle among adults in India. [2019]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mealtime habits and risk of developing the metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance among Mexican adults. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Eating Timing: Associations with Dietary Intake and Metabolic Health. [2021]