Time-Restricted Eating for High Blood Pressure

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Must not be taking: Insulin, Diabetes meds, Cancer meds, others

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Heart failure, Cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how eating within a specific daily time window can help manage high blood pressure and improve heart and metabolic health. Participants will either follow an early time-restricted eating schedule or maintain their usual eating habits for comparison. Ideal candidates are those aged 60 and older with high blood pressure who eat over a span of 12 or more hours each day. The study aims to determine if altering meal times can positively impact health without changing dietary content. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new lifestyle recommendations for better health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but if you are taking medications that require food and cannot fast for 16 hours, you may not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that early time-restricted eating is safe for older adults?

Research has shown that eating all meals within a short daily window, known as early time-restricted eating, is generally safe for most people. Studies have found benefits such as weight loss and lower blood pressure. For example, one study found that eating within a limited time reduced blood pressure and improved mood compared to eating throughout the day. Another study showed that eating within a 10-hour window helped people with metabolic syndrome lose weight and lower their blood pressure.

However, some potential risks exist. Eating all meals within 8 hours has been linked to a higher risk of heart problems. While many people might experience benefits, it's important to consider individual health and consult a healthcare provider before changing eating habits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about early time-restricted eating for high blood pressure because it offers a unique approach compared to standard treatments like medications or lifestyle changes. This method focuses on when you eat, not just what you eat, which can help regulate blood pressure naturally by aligning eating patterns with the body's internal clock. Unlike traditional treatments that may take time to adjust or come with side effects, time-restricted eating is a non-invasive, lifestyle-based intervention that could potentially provide quicker and more sustainable improvements in blood pressure levels.

What evidence suggests that early time-restricted eating is effective for high blood pressure?

Research has shown that eating within a limited time each day can help lower blood pressure. Some studies have found it reduces the top number in a blood pressure reading and improves heart health. Other research has reported it also lowers the bottom number and reduces body fat. Participants who followed this eating pattern lost about 3% of their weight and had a 4% decrease in waist size. In this trial, participants in the intervention arm will practice early time-restricted eating to evaluate its effects on blood pressure. Although some risks exist, such as a study suggesting a higher risk of heart-related death if done in an 8-hour window, many findings suggest benefits for heart health and blood pressure. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for men and women aged 60 or older with high blood pressure, who typically eat over a period of more than 12 hours daily. They must be in stable health without significant weight loss recently, not on a strict diet or weight loss program, wake up between 6-8 am regularly, and not work night shifts often.

Inclusion Criteria

Average office systolic BP ≥130 mmHg

Self-reported ≥12 hours eating period per day of at least 5 days/week

I am 60 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

Current diagnosis of a major psychiatric condition that would impair study participation

I haven't had a heart attack, stroke, or unstable angina in the last 3 months.

I have lost 10 pounds or more in the past 3 months.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants follow an early time-restricted eating schedule

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Early Time-Restricted Eating

Trial Overview The study is testing if eating all meals within an early time window can improve heart health and body rhythms in older adults. Participants will restrict their eating to certain hours of the day to see if this positively affects their blood pressure and metabolism.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Group II: Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

Early time-restricted eating

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,677

Recruited

2,458,000+

UAB Nutrition Obesity Research Center

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

40+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9644535/

Beneficial effect of time-restricted eating on blood pressure The present meta-analysis suggests that TRE significantly reduced SBP, while no effect of reducing DBP was seen.

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261561425000950

Randomized Control Trials Early time-restricted eating with ... Early time-restricted eating with energy restriction has a better effect on body fat mass, diastolic blood pressure, metabolic age and fasting glucose

3. newsroom.heart.org newsroom.heart.org/news/8-hour-time-restricted-eating-linked-to-a-91-higher-risk-of-cardiovascular-death

8-hour time-restricted eating linked to a 91% higher risk of ... People who followed a pattern of eating all of their food across less than 8 hours per day had a 91% higher risk of death due to cardiovascular ...

4. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.063741

Studies Suggest Time-Restricted Eating May Boost ... On average, participants reduced their weight by 3%, waist circumference by 4%, systolic blood pressure by 4%, and diastolic blood pressure by 8 ...

5. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2794819

Effectiveness of Early Time-Restricted Eating for Weight ... In this randomized clinical trial, eTRE was more effective for losing weight and improving diastolic blood pressure and mood than eating over a window of 12 or ...

6. nutritionj.biomedcentral.com nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-024-00967-9

Effects of DASH diet with or without time-restricted eating in ... Our study demonstrated that 8-h TRE + DASH diet caused a greater decrease in blood pressure in stage 1 primary hypertensive patients than DASH diet.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413119306114

Ten-Hour Time-Restricted Eating Reduces Weight, Blood ... Ten-Hour Time-Restricted Eating Reduces Weight, Blood Pressure, and Atherogenic Lipids in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome - ScienceDirect.