Time-Restricted Eating for Coronary Heart Disease

(TREat-CR Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Amy Kirkham, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Toronto

Disqualifiers: Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Diabetes, others

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

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 16 weeks

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether time-restricted eating (TRE) can enhance the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation for individuals with heart disease. TRE involves consuming all meals within an 8-hour window, followed by 16 hours of fasting each day, which may improve heart health when combined with exercise. Participants will either follow standard cardiac rehabilitation—a structured program of exercise and education—or add TRE to assess its impact on their recovery. Individuals with coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease who are open to random assignments may be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to investigate innovative lifestyle changes that could improve heart health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that time-restricted eating is safe for individuals with coronary heart disease?

Research shows that time-restricted eating (TRE) might be a safe and effective way to improve heart health. Studies suggest that TRE can lower some risk factors for heart disease. For example, some research found that people who practice fasting, a type of TRE, may have better heart health and a lower chance of heart problems.

However, one study found a higher risk of heart issues when eating was limited to a very short time. This indicates that while TRE can be helpful, the specific timing and length of the eating period are important for safety.

Overall, TRE is generally well-tolerated, but results can vary from person to person. Consulting healthcare professionals is advisable to determine if this approach is suitable. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a new approach to managing coronary heart disease by combining time-restricted eating (TRE) with standard cardiac rehabilitation. Unlike traditional treatments that focus solely on medication and exercise, this method emphasizes meal timing, encouraging participants to eat only between 11 am and 7 pm. This strategy may help improve metabolism and enhance the body's natural circadian rhythms, potentially offering additional benefits in managing heart disease. The approach is unique because it integrates dietary timing with physical activity, possibly leading to better cardiovascular outcomes.

What evidence suggests that time-restricted eating could be an effective addition to cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease?

Research has shown that time-restricted eating (TRE), a type of intermittent fasting, can benefit heart health. TRE has been linked to improved blood fat levels, weight loss, and better insulin use, all of which support heart health. Some studies suggest TRE might lower risks related to heart disease, making it a promising option for prevention. However, results are mixed, as other studies have shown increased heart risks with TRE. Despite these concerns, many people have experienced better heart function with fasting practices like Ramadan. In this trial, one group of participants will receive standard cardiac rehabilitation, while another group will receive the same program with the addition of TRE. Overall, TRE could be a helpful part of heart health programs, but results can vary for each person. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Paul Oh, MD

Principal Investigator

University Health Network, Toronto

Amy Kirkham, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Toronto, KITE Research Institute

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for men and women eligible for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation due to coronary artery disease, who are willing to follow the study's procedures. It excludes those with communication barriers, night shift workers, recent mothers or pregnant women, individuals with eating disorders or very low body weight, people who eat less than 3 meals a day or have an eating window under 12 hours, and diabetics on insulin.

Inclusion Criteria

Willing to accept random assignment and complete the study assessments

My participation helps maintain gender balance in the study.

I am eligible for outpatient cardiac rehab for coronary artery disease.

Exclusion Criteria

Inability to complete the consent form and communicate in English

You eat within a time period of less than 12 hours each day, or you consistently eat fewer than 3 meals each day for the past 3 months.

You have a history of an eating disorder that you have reported yourself.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a 16-week cardiac rehabilitation program with or without time-restricted eating (TRE). The TRE group restricts eating to an 8-hour window daily.

16 weeks

Regular virtual education sessions and assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including adherence to TRE and cardiac rehabilitation outcomes.

4 weeks

Long-term Follow-up

Participants are monitored for adverse events such as re-hospitalizations and recurrent cardiac events.

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Standard cardiac rehabilitation
• Time-Restricted Eating

Trial Overview The study is testing if adding time-restricted eating (TRE), where participants eat all their meals within an 8-hour period each day, can improve the benefits of standard cardiac rehabilitation in patients with heart conditions. The effectiveness and safety of TRE as part of cardiac rehab will be evaluated.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Standard cardiac rehabilitation + TRE Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive the same standard assessment and individualized recommendations as the comparator group, but will also be counselled to restrict their eating to between 11 am and 7 pm during the program starting the evening of the consultation. They will also be advised to perform their home-based exercise sessions during the fasting period in the morning.

Group II: Standard cardiac rehabilitation Active Control 1 Intervention

The 16-week program consists of physician-directed risk factor management, an individualized aerobic and resistance exercise prescription, and virtual education on disease management and lifestyle behaviors (including exercise safety, stress management, and heart-healthy nutrition), and an assessment with a registered dietitian and individualized recommendations for a heart-healthy diet. Additionally, selected patients with identified issues such as depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, anger and social and emotional issues will receive one-on-one counselling with a psychologist or social worker.

Standard cardiac rehabilitation is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Cardiac Rehabilitation for:

• Secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease
• Improvement of cardiometabolic health parameters

Approved in European Union as Cardiac Rehabilitation for:

• Cardiovascular disease management
• Rehabilitation post-myocardial infarction

Approved in Canada as Cardiac Rehabilitation for:

• Heart disease management
• Improvement of cardiovascular risk factors

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Toronto

Lead Sponsor

Trials

739

Recruited

1,125,000+

University Health Network, Toronto

Collaborator

Trials

1,555

Recruited

526,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a pilot study of 50 participants with obesity over 12 weeks, time-restricted eating (TRE) led to a modest average weight loss of 2.6 kg, with greater weight loss observed in those who adhered to the regimen at least five days a week.

While TRE showed similar weight loss results compared to more complex weight management methods, it did not significantly impact blood pressure or lipid profiles, suggesting its primary benefit may be in weight management rather than metabolic health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Time restricted eating as a weight loss intervention in adults with obesity. Przulj, D., Ladmore, D., Smith, KM., et al.[2021]

High-risk cardiac patients showed significant improvements in exercise capacity (VO2peak) and heart function (LVEF) after participating in a 6 to 8 week cardiac rehabilitation program, with no serious cardiovascular events reported during the training.

The improvements in both VO2peak and LVEF in high-risk patients were comparable to those seen in control participants, indicating that cardiac rehabilitation is safe and effective for high-risk individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Training for High-Risk Cardiac Patients. Choi, HE., Kim, C., Sohn, Y.[2020]

A novel telehealth-enhanced hybrid cardiac rehabilitation (THCR) program was developed using user-centered design and implementation science principles, addressing barriers to uptake identified through interviews with healthcare stakeholders.

Usability testing of the THCR prototype revealed important themes such as ease of use and technology disruptions, leading to design improvements that enhance the program's feasibility and acceptability for patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Applying User-Centered Design and Implementation Science to the Early-Stage Development of a Telehealth-Enhanced Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: Quality Improvement Study. Duran, AT., Keener-DeNoia, A., Stavrolakes, K., et al.[2023]

In a study of 54,163 patients with coronary heart disease, those who participated in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for longer than 90 days had nearly half the mortality risk compared to those who did not participate at all, highlighting the program's effectiveness in improving survival rates.

Patients who did not engage in exercise-based rehabilitation also faced a higher risk of reduced working capacity, emphasizing the importance of these programs in maintaining not just health but also the ability to work after cardiac events.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation: Secondary Data Analyses of Mortality and Working Capacity in Germany, 2010-2017. Gabrys, L., Soff, J., Thiel, C., et al.[2023]

Intensive behavioral interventions, such as counseling, are effective in promoting long-term health behavior changes in patients with coronary heart disease and abdominal obesity, leading to weight reduction, healthier eating, and increased physical activity.

These comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programs have been shown to improve key clinical outcomes, highlighting their importance in secondary prevention efforts for this high-risk group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Hallmarks of preventive counseling in coronary heart disease patients with abdominal obesity]. Pogosova, NV., Sokolova, OY., Salbieva, AO., et al.[2019]

A 4-week time-restricted eating (TRE) intervention significantly reduced markers of cardiovascular disease risk, including lowering TNF-α and glucose levels, in a study of 12 middle-aged male cyclists.

TRE also increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, suggesting that this dietary approach can enhance cardiovascular health alongside regular endurance training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A self-selected 16:8 time-restricted eating quasi-experimental intervention improves various markers of cardiovascular health in middle-age male cyclists. Waldman, HS., Witt, CR., Grozier, CD., et al.[2023]

The Partners Together in Health (PaTH) intervention showed improved trends in healthy eating behaviors for both coronary artery bypass surgery patients and their spouses, suggesting that involving partners in rehabilitation can enhance dietary adherence.

Despite the positive impact on eating habits, the study found no significant differences in physical activity levels between the PaTH intervention and usual care groups at 3 or 6 months, with both groups falling short of national physical activity guidelines.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of partners together in health intervention on physical activity and healthy eating behaviors: a pilot study. Yates, BC., Norman, J., Meza, J., et al.[2021]

A study involving 497 patients compared a standard 8-week cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) to a brief 2-week intensive CRP, finding that both programs significantly improved patients' functional capacity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and quality of life after 12 months.

The results showed no significant differences in the occurrence of cardiovascular events between the two groups, suggesting that the intensive CRP could be a viable alternative to the standard program for some patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and results of an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program. Insights from the MxM (Más por Menos) randomized trial. Castro-Conde, A., Abeytua, M., Arrarte Esteban, VI., et al.[2021]

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs lead to improvements in fitness for patients after heart events, with a mean age of participants being 59.5 years, but younger individuals and women are underrepresented in these studies.

The study suggests that a more tailored 'Precision Medicine' approach to CR could enhance benefits for all patient subgroups, as current programs may not fully address the diverse needs of participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fit, Female or Fifty-Is Cardiac Rehabilitation "Fit" for Purpose for All? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With Meta-Regression. Smith, M., Orchard, J., La Gerche, A., et al.[2022]

A study involving 144 acute coronary syndrome survivors showed that a patient-centered modular prevention program significantly reduced key risk factors like cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index compared to conventional care over 3 months.

Participants in the modular group also had better smoking cessation rates and achieved similar risk levels as those attending traditional cardiac rehabilitation, highlighting its effectiveness as an alternative for those not accessing standard programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient-centered modular secondary prevention following acute coronary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Redfern, J., Briffa, T., Ellis, E., et al.[2014]

Time-restricted eating (TRE) is proposed as a promising nutritional strategy within cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, addressing barriers to dietary adherence and enhancing overall program effectiveness.

Preliminary data suggest that TRE is safe and may have beneficial cardiometabolic effects, especially when combined with exercise, although more research is needed to fully establish its efficacy in CR settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Time-Restricted Eating: A Novel Dietary Strategy for Cardiac Rehabilitation. Small, S., Iglesies-Grau, J., Gariepy, C., et al.[2023]

Time-restricted eating (TRE) significantly reduces cardiovascular risk factors, including systolic blood pressure, body weight, body mass index, fat mass, and blood glucose levels, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of various studies.

The analysis suggests that optimal TRE strategies vary by population, with specific recommendations for feeding windows and timing that can maximize health benefits for different age and gender groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The optimal time restricted eating interventions for blood pressure, weight, fat mass, glucose, and lipids: A meta-analyses and systematic review. Liang, X., Chen, J., An, X., et al.[2023]

Citations

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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 ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12289860/

Intermittent Fasting for the Prevention of Cardiovascular ... Modified alternate-day fasting, and time-restricted eating appear to be promising approaches for reducing most cardiovascular risk factors.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0011502924001044

Intermittent fasting and cardiovascular disease: A scoping ... A recent observational study indicates a 91 % increased risk of CVD mortality associated with IF compared to consuming meals throughout a 12- to 16-hour period.

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1524125/full

A perspective on intermittent fasting and cardiovascular ... Intermittent fasting has been linked to metabolic health by improving lipid profiles, reducing body weight, and increasing insulin sensitivity.

5. onlinecjc.ca onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(23)01731-2/fulltext

Time-Restricted Eating: A Novel Dietary Strategy for ... Among those who completed Ramadan fasting, 92% remained stable or showed an improvement in their NYHA functional classification. In summary, ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05075317

Time Restricted Eating and Cardiac Rehabilitation This study will determine if TRE is a feasible and safe nutrition intervention during cardiac rehabilitation and if TRE improves the health benefits of cardiac ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0828282X23017312

Time-Restricted Eating: A Novel Dietary Strategy for ... Among those who completed Ramadan fasting, 92% remained stable or showed an improvement in their NYHA functional classification. In summary, these 2 ...