# Impact of Time-Restricted Feeding in Reducing Cancer Risk Through Optimizing Mitochondria Function

> **NIH NIH R01** · SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES · 2023 · $188,434

## Abstract

Project Summary.
This request for an administrative supplement is submitted in response to PA-20-227 - Administrative
Supplements for Research on Dietary Supplements (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed].
The use of melatonin as a dietary supplement to support sleep and reduce cancer risk is rapidly growing.
Melatonin is extensively studied as a hormonal marker of the circadian rhythm, however, its function in relation
of diet or dietary patterns is rarely studied. The synthesis, metabolism, and mode of action of melatonin are
tightly linked to mitochondria function. Hence, lifestyles influencing mitochondria function are highly likely to
modulate melatonin production, degradation, and activity. Time-restricted feeding/eating (TRF/TRE) is a
dietary intervention that limits daily calorie intake to a consistent window of 6-12 hours. TRF in animals
systemically affect mitochondria function in multiple organs and brain regions. Human participants undergoing
TRE intervention also show improvement in muscle mitochondria function. These preliminary observations
raise the hypothesis that eating patterns can modulate melatonin function.
This supplemental funding request will leverage the recently concluded randomized controlled trial on 10 h
TRE among shift workers. Plasma collected at baseline and post-intervention will be used to test whether TRE
affects the plasma levels of melatonin and its metabolites. Next, plasma adoptive transfer experiments will
quantitatively assess the impact of plasma from TRE alone or in combination with supplemental melatonin on
mitochondria function in normal and cancer cells. Successful completion of these aims will, for the first time,
demonstrate whether TRE affects plasma melatonin levels and how TRE and melatonin interact to influence
mitochondria function in normal cells and in cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10829772
- **Project number:** 3R01CA258221-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
- **Principal Investigator:** Satchidananda Panda
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $188,434
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10829772

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10829772, Impact of Time-Restricted Feeding in Reducing Cancer Risk Through Optimizing Mitochondria Function (3R01CA258221-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10829772. Licensed CC0.

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