Time-Restricted Eating Shows Promise in Managing Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome, a dangerous combination of conditions that can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, affects more than one-third of adults in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. With risk factors like high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and high cholesterol, this syndrome presents a significant challenge for both patients and healthcare providers. However, new research is offering hope through the use of time-restricted eating (TRE) as a potential treatment.

In a recent study, researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and the Salk Institute investigated how time restricted eating (TRE)—a form of intermittent fasting—can benefit individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and prediabetes. The results of the trial, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, showed promising improvements in cardiometabolic health.

“Metabolic syndrome, especially when paired with prediabetes, represents a critical tipping point in which the risk for developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease is greatly increased,” said Pam Taub, MD, FACC, FASPC, co-corresponding author of the study and professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “We’re hopeful the findings of this study can help others who are looking to address their metabolic syndrome and reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes.”

The TIMET study is notable as the first to explore the benefits of time-restricted eating among patients taking medications for metabolic syndrome. The trial involved 108 adults from UC San Diego Health, who were randomly assigned to either a TRE group or a control group. Both groups received standard medical care, along with nutritional counseling on the Mediterranean diet. Participants also logged their meals through the myCircadianClock mobile app, which allowed researchers to track their eating patterns.

For those in the TRE group, eating schedules were tailored to their individual habits and lifestyle. Each participant limited their daily eating window to 10 hours, starting at least one hour after waking up and ending at least three hours before going to bed. After three months, the patients following TRE showed marked improvements in key markers of heart health, such as blood sugar, cholesterol, and hemoglobin A1c levels.

“Our bodies actually process sugars and fats very differently depending on the time of day,” explained Satchidananda Panda, PhD, co-corresponding author and professor at the Salk Institute. “In time-restricted eating, we are re-engaging the body’s natural wisdom and harnessing its daily circadian rhythms to restore metabolism and improve health.”

Circadian rhythms, the body’s 24-hour biological cycles, govern various processes within the body, including metabolism, the study explained. Disrupted circadian rhythms, often caused by erratic eating patterns, have been linked to the development of metabolic syndrome. According to the researchers, time-restricted eating allows individuals to align their meals with their circadian clocks, promoting better health outcomes.

The study also found that participants in the TRE group experienced reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), and abdominal trunk fat—a type of fat strongly associated with metabolic diseases—without losing significant lean muscle mass.

The TIMET trial adds to a growing body of evidence supporting TRE as a low-cost, practical intervention for improving cardiometabolic health.

“There is an urgent need for more effective treatment options that are accessible, affordable, and sustainable for the average American,” said Dr. Taub, who also serves as the director of the Step Family Foundation Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Wellness Center at UC San Diego Health. “Our research demonstrates that lifestyle interventions, such as time-restricted eating, can have a meaningful impact on the trajectory of a person’s overall health.”

For integrative practitioners, the findings of the TIMET trial offer a potential avenue for addressing metabolic syndrome. Time-restricted eating, with its ability to work in harmony with the body’s natural rhythms, could serve as an additional tool to support patients in their journey toward better health.