Metabolic Efficacy of Time-Restricted Eating in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
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1National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011 Hunan, China.
Context:
Time-restricted eating (TRE), which restricts food intake to a limited duration of the day, is a key regimen of intermittent fasting.
Objective:
The aim of our study was to provide an up-to-date meta-analysis and systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of TRE on weight loss and other metabolic-related parameters in adults.
Methods:
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies published before February 26, 2022. Study duration of TRE was at least 4 weeks. Body weight and other metabolic-related continuous parameters were described as weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI.
Results:
Seventeen randomized controlled trials involving 899 participants were analyzed. The pooled meta-analysis has shown that TRE contributed to a significant decrease in body weight with a WMD of -1.60 kg (95% CI -2.27 to -0.93) and fat mass with WMD -1.48 kg (95% CI -1.59 to -1.38). Subgroup analysis showed that TRE could reduce body weight and fat mass especially in overweight participants with WMD -1.43 kg (95% CI -2.05 to -0.81) and -1.56 kg (95% CI -1.67 to -1.44), respectively. TRE also showed beneficial effects on the lipid spectrum in overweight participants, including decreased levels of triglyceride (WMD -12.71 mg/dL, 95% CI -24.9 to -0.52), total cholesterol (WMD -6.45 mg/dL, 95% CI -7.40 to -5.49), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD -7.0 mg/dL, 95% CI -9.74 to -4.25). However, compared with control, TRE had no significant effects on waist circumference, body mass index, glycosylated hemoglobin, or blood pressure.
Conclusion:
This updated meta-analysis found that TRE may be an effective approach to improve the metabolic state of nonobese subjects, especially in overweight participants.
