# Impact of Time-Restricted Feeding (TRF) on Glucose Homeostasis and Mitochondrial Function in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2022 · $701,786

## Abstract

Project Abstract
In the United States, about 34% of adults meet criteria for metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by the
presence of multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Diet and lifestyle interventions are
critical to prevent disease progression in patients with type II-diabetes mellitus and cardiometabolic disease.
However, patient adherence is low with existing interventions that focus on changing the quality and quantity of
nutrition and activity. Thus, a new method of prevention and treatment is greatly needed. Recent studies have
shown that the timing of eating also plays a large role in metabolism. Circadian rhythms optimize nutrient
homeostasis by orchestrating daily rhythms in catabolic and anabolic metabolism to appropriate time during the
24-hour day. Chronic circadian rhythm disruption due to lifestyle including erratic eating patterns predisposes
individuals to metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes and obesity. In rodents, 8-12 h of time-restricted
feeding without altering calorie consumption or food composition can prevent and reverse diet-induced obesity
and its associated metabolic dysfunction. Consequently, the diurnal regulation of metabolism through alternating
periods of feeding and fasting offers a promising avenue for the prevention and treatment of metabolic disease.
The major objective of this proposal is to determine the efficacy of restricting daily calorie intake to a
reduced/fixed number of hours per day (time-restricted feeding, TRF) to improve metabolic health. We will
achieve this with the following specific aims: 1) Evaluate the impact of TRF on glucose homeostasis with
exploratory aims to assess changes in mitochondrial structure and gene expression in skeletal muscle and 2)
Assess the changes in metabolic biomarkers in response to TRF. 3) Assess the impact of TRF on body
composition. In this study, we will ask participants who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome to restrict
their food intake to 10 hours a day and fast for 14 hours for 12-weeks. Eating, sleeping, and activity patterns will
be assessed throughout the study with a smartphone app. Sleeping and activity patterns will also be observed
with actiwatches for one week at baseline and one week at the end of the study. Glucose homeostasis, metabolic
biomarkers, and body composition will be assessed at baseline and at the end of the TRF intervention. In
addition, we will conduct skeletal muscle biopsies to assess the changes in mitochondrial structure by light
microscopy and in critical proteins that regulate mitochondrial function. We hypothesize that imposing feeding-
fasting cycles (TRF) will restore the equilibrium between catabolic and anabolic processes, which will improve
glucose homeostasis and cardiometabolic biomarkers, decrease abdominal fat, and enhance mitochondrial
function.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10429941
- **Project number:** 5R01DK118278-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Pam Rajendran Taub
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $701,786
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-15 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10429941

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10429941, Impact of Time-Restricted Feeding (TRF) on Glucose Homeostasis and Mitochondrial Function in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome (5R01DK118278-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10429941. Licensed CC0.

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