Time-Restricted Feeding/Eating and Muscle Aging: Research Progress from Molecular Mechanisms to Personalized...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science
• Muscle Physiology

Background:

• Sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and function, is a major public health concern linked to metabolic disorders and mobility issues.
• Time-restricted feeding or eating (TRF/TRE) is a dietary strategy involving confining food intake to a specific daily window, showing potential for metabolic regulation and aging delay.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize recent evidence on how TRF/TRE influences muscle mass and function.
• To evaluate the potential of TRF/TRE as a non-pharmacological intervention for muscle aging.

Main Methods:

• A targeted literature search was performed in PubMed.
• Articles were screened for relevance to TRF/TRE effects on skeletal muscle, function, and underlying molecular mechanisms.
• Included studies focused on circadian rhythm, autophagy, and mitochondrial function.

Main Results:

• TRF/TRE alone promotes fat loss but can lead to lean mass loss in younger adults without exercise.
• Older adults exhibit greater resilience to lean mass attrition with TRF/TRE.
• Combining TRF/TRE with resistance training or supplementation effectively preserves muscle mass and function.

Conclusions:

• TRF/TRE mitigates muscle aging through mechanisms like reinforcing circadian rhythms, enhancing mitochondrial function, and activating autophagy.
• Personalized strategies considering age, sex, metabolic status, and activity are crucial for clinical translation.
• Future research should optimize TRF/TRE parameters, including timing and combination with exercise and nutrition, for effective muscle aging prevention and treatment.