Deep Dive: Essensfenster, zirkadiane Rhythmik und Glukose

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Shift workers face higher risks of impaired glucose metabolism due to irregular eating habits and circadian misalignment. Time-restricted eating (TRE) could improve glucose metabolism by aligning food intake with the circadian clock, but its effectiveness remains unclear. <b>Methods</b>: Ten electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Science.gov, and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched from journal inception to September 2024. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving shift workers were included. Meta-analyses with sensitivity analyses were conducted using a random-effects model to pool glucose metabolism and sleep outcomes, with heterogeneity and quality assessments performed. <b>Results</b>: Six RCTs were included. TRE demonstrated positive but non-significant effects on glucose metabolism outcomes: fasting blood glucose (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.02 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.13 to 0.10, <i>I</i>² = 0%), fasting blood insulin (WMD: -5.77 pmol/L, 95% CI: -85.62 to 74.08, <i>I</i>² = 92%), HOMA-IR (WMD: -0.50, 95% CI: -2.76 to 1.76, <i>I</i>² = 82%), 2 h postprandial glucose (WMD: -0.65 mmol/L, 95% CI: -3.18 to 1.89, <i>I</i>² = 86%), total sleep time (<i>g</i> = 0.07, 95% CI: -0.23 to 0.37, <i>I</i>² = 0%), and sleep efficiency (<i>g</i> = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.63 to 0.53, <i>

<h4>Background</h4>Recent findings have suggested that implementing the emerging weight-loss strategy of time-restricted eating (TRE) for 6 weeks can have beneficial effects on the key pathophysiologic determinants of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) - namely, pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin resistance. Given the chronic nature of T2DM and the general challenge of long-term adherence to dietary interventions, a critical question is the durability of such effects. Specifically, we seek to determine whether TRE can improve the metabolic health of patients with T2DM over 1 year.<h4>Methods</h4>In this open-label, parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial, individuals with overweight/obesity and T2DM of <10 years duration will be randomized to either standard lifestyle recommendations or TRE. The TRE protocol will consist of 18 hours of fasting and a 6 hour window of eating (between 2-8 PM) each day. The duration of the intervention will be 52-weeks and participants will undergo metabolic characterization at baseline, 12-24-, 36- and 52-weeks. The primary outcome of pancreatic beta-cell function will be assessed by Insulin Secretion-Sensitivity Index-2 (ISSI-2). Additional metabolic measures will include insulin resistance and glucose homeostasis.<h4>Discussion</h4>TRE may represent an adjunct therapeutic approach for improving the metabolic profile of overweight/obese individuals with T2DM while also providing the capacity for modification of its underlying pathophysiology. This

The global prevalence of obesity continues to rise and is a significant risk factor for the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Despite the development of new pharmacological therapies, novel strategies are being explored to mitigate the impact of this disease. Intermittent fasting (IF) is a nutritional intervention that has gained popularity and shows potential as an innovative approach to weight management. This study aims to compile scientific evidence on various aspects of fasting, including its physiological effects, the molecular and thermogenic mechanisms involved, and recommendations regarding nutritional strategies during the refeeding period within the eating window. We conducted a narrative review, analyzing evidence available from PubMed/MEDLINE based on studies related to intermittent fasting, thermogenesis, and their associated outcomes. Our results demonstrate the existence of three commonly used IF protocols: alternate day fasting (ADF), periodic fasting (PF), and time-restricted eating (TRE). In addition to its effects on weight loss, IF has demonstrated notable benefits for cardiovascular health, oxidative stress, and metabolic function. Moreover, the interaction between the central nervous system and brown adipose tissue provides an alternative mechanism for the molecular regulation of thermogenesis. Nutritional patterns adopted during intermittent fasting play a crucial role in optimizing outcomes, with particular emphasis on the intake of pr

Intermittent fasting (IF) and time-restricted eating (TRE) are recognized as metabolic interventions that link energy balance regulation with influence on stress-related physiological and neuroendocrine processes. Accumulating evidence suggests that IF acts as a mild, controllable stressor that triggers adaptive cellular and systemic responses. Central mechanisms that are involved in these effects are nutrient-sensing pathways, including AMP-activated protein kinase, sirtuins, the target of rapamycin (TOR), and insulin signaling pathways, which collectively coordinate metabolic flexibility and stress adaptation. IF has been shown to modulate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and promote redox and inflammatory homeostasis. This review discusses both preclinical and clinical studies examining the effects of IF and TRE on stress biology and mental health, which frequently report heterogeneous and, in some cases, contradicting effects. Reported effects may vary depending on study design, experimental model, phenotype, and fasting protocol. By integrating data from experimental research, this review highlights the bidirectional interaction between nutritional timing and stress biology and emphasizes that hormesis is a potential mechanism underlying stress resilience. This review also emphasizes the need to carefully balance potential benefits against risks when considering IF interventions for stress resilience and mental health maintenance.

Intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a powerful dietary intervention with profound metabolic benefits, yet the tissue-specific molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed comprehensive proteomics and transcriptomics analysis to investigate the systemic and organ-specific adaptations to IF in male C57BL/6 mice. Following a 16 hr daily fasting regimen (IF16) over 4 months, IF reduced blood glucose, HbA1c, and cholesterol levels while increasing ketone bodies, indicative of enhanced metabolic flexibility. Proteomic profiling of the liver, skeletal muscle, and cerebral cortex revealed tissue-specific responses, with the liver exhibiting the most pronounced changes, including upregulation of pathways involved in fatty acid oxidation, ketogenesis, and glycan degradation, and downregulation of steroid hormone and cholesterol metabolism. In muscle, IF enhanced pyruvate metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and AMPK signaling, while suppressing oxidative phosphorylation and thermogenesis. The cerebral cortex displayed unique adaptations, with upregulation of autophagy, PPAR signaling, and metabolic pathways, and downregulation of TGF-beta and p53 signaling, suggesting a shift toward energy conservation and stress resilience. Notably, Serpin A1c emerged as the only protein commonly upregulated across all three tissues, highlighting its potential role in systemic adaptation to IF. Integrative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses