Time-restricted eating reshapes gut microbiota to induce weight loss

A recent study suggests that time-restricted eating (TRE) may help reduce weight and improve cardiometabolic health by regulating gut microbiota and serum metabolites.

An 8-week randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 60 young adults with overweight or obesity. Participants were randomly allocated to 6-h early TRE (7 AM to 1 PM), 6-hr late TRE (12 PM to 6 PM), or a control group (ad libitum).

The investigators analysed the gut microbiota by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and quantified serum metabolomics using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Compared with controls, participants in the 6-h early TRE showed increased abundance of Faecalibacterium and Lactobacillus and decreased abundance of unclassified_f_Peptostreptococcaceae, while those in the 6-h late TRE had increased abundance of Faecalibacterium and decreased abundance of Shigella (p<0.05 for all) after week 8.

Furthermore, differential serum metabolites (eg, L-malic acid in early TRE and isovaleric acid in late TRE) demonstrated a significant association with changes in weight, body fat, and systolic blood pressure (p<0.05).

“TRE intervention reshaped the gut microbiota, as evidenced by increased α-diversity and elevated abundance of protective taxa such as Faecalibacterium and Lactobacillus, while reducing potential pathogens,” the investigators said.

“These alterations, together with TRE-induced serum metabolomic shifts, underpinned the antiobesity effect. Both the microbial and metabolite changes were significantly correlated with reductions in body weight and systolic blood pressure,” they added.

These findings can help young adults with overweight and obesity to make informed choices when deciding on dietary approaches to reduce weight and improve cardiometabolic health, according to the investigators.