Fresh research from Northwestern Medicine has revealed that simply adjusting when one eats - rather than how much - can yield significant cardiovascular benefits for those at heightened risk of cardiometabolic disease.
The study, published on 12 February in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, examined whether aligning overnight fasting with natural sleep patterns could bolster heart and metabolic function.
Middle-aged and older participants who ceased eating three hours before retiring and extended their, cardiac rhythms and glucose regulation.
Crucially, calorie intake remained unchanged throughout the investigation, with researchers focusing solely on meal timing.
Prolonging your fasting period by two hours could lead to significant improvements in blood pressure
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Those who modified their eating schedule experienced a 3.5 per cent reduction in blood pressure during nighttime hours, alongside a 5 per cent decrease in heart rate.
The changes point to a healthier cardiovascular pattern, with the body's vital signs appropriately elevated during waking hours and naturally declining during rest.
Over time, strengthened day-to-night rhythms can significantly improve heart health outcomes. Participants also demonstrated superior glucose management during daylight hours.
When administered glucose, their pancreatic response proved more efficient, indicating enhanced insulin secretion and more stable blood sugar levels throughout the day.
Dr Daniela Grimaldi, research associate professor of neurology in the division of sleep medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, explained the significance of these findings.
"Timing our fasting window to work with the body's natural wake-sleep rhythms can improve the coordination between the heart, metabolism and sleep, all of which work together to protect cardiovascular health," she said.
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Director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine at Feinberg, Dr Phyllis Zee, noted that the timing of meals relative to sleep matters considerably.
"It's not only how much and what you eat, but also when you eat relative to sleep that is important for the physiological benefits of time-restricted eating," she noted.
The investigation spanned seven and a half weeks, enrolling 39 overweight or obese adults between the ages of 36 and 75.
Researchers divided participants into two groups: one following an extended overnight fast of 13 to 16 hours, whilst the control group maintained their customary eating window of 11 to 13 hours.
Both cohorts dimmed their lights three hours before bedtime, though women comprised 80 per cent of the intervention group.
The timing of meals relative to sleep matters considerably
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Remarkably, adherence reached nearly 90 per cent, suggesting that anchoring time-restricted eating to sleep schedules represents a practical, drug-free approach for those facing elevated cardiometabolic risk.
The research team intends to expand testing through larger multi-centre trials.
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