Time-restricted eating and cancer: lessons learned and considerations for a path forward

Area of Science:

• Metabolic health
• Cancer research
• Nutritional science

Background:

• Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a dietary pattern involving consuming food within a specific daily window.
• While animal studies show benefits, human TRE research is limited and short-term.
• The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is investigating intermittent fasting (IF) and TRE's effects on cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of intermittent fasting (IF) and time-restricted eating (TRE) on cancer incidence, treatment response, and outcomes.
• To identify key areas for future TRE research based on expert discussions.
• To advance the understanding of TRE's potential benefits for cancer prevention and survivorship.

Main Methods:

• Review of NCI-funded studies on intermittent fasting (IF) and time-restricted eating (TRE).
• Discussion and identification of research priorities from a 2023 NCI webinar.
• Analysis of factors influencing TRE's impact on cancer-related outcomes.

Main Results:

• Human TRE studies are less consistent and shorter than animal studies.
• Four of five NCI-funded IF studies in 2020 focused on TRE and cancer.
• Six critical research areas for TRE and cancer were identified.

Conclusions:

• Understanding TRE's mechanisms beyond weight loss is crucial for metabolic health.
• Further research is essential to explore TRE's potential in cancer risk reduction and treatment.
• Optimizing TRE interventions requires understanding factors influencing adherence for long-term benefits.