PD607 - EARLY TIME-RESTRICTED EATING AS HARMONIZER OF INSULIN RESISTANCE, HEPATIC FUNCTION, AND WEIGHT REGULATION: A CRITICAL REVIEW

PD607

EARLY TIME-RESTRICTED EATING AS HARMONIZER OF INSULIN RESISTANCE, HEPATIC FUNCTION, AND WEIGHT REGULATION: A CRITICAL REVIEW

S. A. Varma^1,1,*, M. V. Patil², D. C. Patel³

¹Nutrition, BelleVue MultiSpeciality Hospital, Mumbai, ²Nutrition, Ashakiran JHC hospital, Pune, ³Nutrition, D Y patil Medical College and Hospital, DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai, India

Rationale: Early time-restricted eating (eTRE), aligned with circadian rhythms, is a promising strategy for metabolic regulation. This review evaluates its effects on insulin resistance, liver function, and weight management.

Methods: A critical review of 67 studies (2007–2025) was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. Evidence from randomized trials, observational, and mechanistic studies was synthesized. Outcomes included insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR), glycemic control, liver biomarkers (ALT, AST, hepatic fat), and anthropometry.

Results: eTRE invariably optimized insulin sensitivity, reducing fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and postprandial glucose excursions. Hepatic benefits included reduced intrahepatic fat and improved transaminases. Noteworthy reductions in body weight, visceral adiposity, and waist circumference were observed, often independent of caloric restriction. Mechanistically, eTRE enhances circadian alignment, activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), improves mitochondrial efficiency, and suppresses mTOR signaling, promoting metabolic flexibility and autophagy. Betterment in lipid profile, including reduced triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, were also noted. Early eating windows (≤8–10 h) showed superior outcomes versus delayed patterns, though heterogeneity exists due to study design and population differences.

Conclusion: eTRE exhibits beneficial multi-system metabolic effects on insulin resistance, liver health, and weight regulation. Its circadian association supports its role as a practical intervention; however, long-term randomized trials are needed to confirm sustainability and clinical applicability.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared