# Metabolic Effects of Circadian-Based Dinner Time

> **NIH NIH K23** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $200,220

## Abstract

Obesity and its metabolic complications are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Evidence is
mounting that inappropriate timing of food intake contributes to obesity. Late eating is associated with obesity
and metabolic syndrome, suggesting that circadian misalignment may be the mechanism underlying the adverse
metabolic consequences of late eating. We hypothesize that meal timing in relation to the endogenous circadian
rhythm, rather than to clock hour, determines metabolic outcomes. In this study, we will use dim light melatonin
onset (DLMO), the gold-standard for ascertaining central circadian output, to assess individual circadian rhythms.
We will use DLMO to prospectively assign “early” (DLMO-3h) vs “late” (DLMO+1h) dinner while maintaining the
same sleep times (DLMO+2h to +10h) to evaluate whether acute metabolic dysfunction can be reliably induced
or prevented by setting dinner times around DLMO. We will use hourly blood sampling for detailed glucose and
insulin profiles, oral [2H31] palmitate tracer to quantify dietary fat oxidation, and whole-room indirect calorimetry
to measure total fat oxidation. We will enroll both normal-weight healthy adults (NWH) and adults with obesity
and prediabetes (OPD), as the latter population is particularly vulnerable to metabolic diseases and could derive
immediate benefit from our findings. The specific aims are to: 1) Quantify the impact of DLMO-based “early” vs.
“late” dinner time on post-prandial and overnight glucose and insulin levels in NWH and OPD adults, 2) Measure
the impact of DLMO-based “early” vs. “late” dinner time on (a) exogenous/dietary and (b) total fat oxidation in
NWH and OPD adults, and 3) Examine the utility of circadian phase markers to predict susceptibility to late
eating-induced metabolic dysfunction. For Aims 1 and 2, we will crossover-randomize 16 NWH adults (8 men, 8
women) and 16 OPD adults (8 men, 8 women) to the 2 dinner times with isocaloric feeding in a metabolic
chamber. For Aim 3, we will leverage validated circadian metrics derived from actigraphy and ingestible
thermosensors to predict effects of late dinner.
Dr. Daisy Duan’s long-term career goal is to become an independent clinician investigator leveraging novel
mechanistic insights that underly the intersection between the circadian system and metabolism to design and
validate interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity and its metabolic complications. She seeks a
K23 mentored career development award to gain critical skills and experience in order to effectively lead an
independently-funded research program. The goals during the award period include developing expertise in the
design and implementation of in vivo metabolic studies and in the principles, practice, and analytical methods in
sleep and circadian phenotyping techniques, through a combination of mentored research experience, focused
coursework, hands-on learning in research methodology, participation in local and nation...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10506606
- **Project number:** 1K23DK133690-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Daisy Duan
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $200,220
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10506606

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10506606, Metabolic Effects of Circadian-Based Dinner Time (1K23DK133690-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10506606. Licensed CC0.

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