Abstract

Background: Late professor Franz Halberg reported for the first time that eating breakfast causes a decrease in weight, while eating same amount of energy as dinner, was associated with lack of weight loss. There is a gap in the knowledge on epidemiological studies showing role of low caloric diet in decreasing cardio-metabolic risk. A pilot study, observed that restricted feeding in the evening, along with low calorie intake have independent effects on body weight. This study examines the effectiveness of circadian restricted feeding in conjunction with low calorie diet in patients with coronary risk factors. Subjects and methods: After clearance from the review board of the spiritual health center, and verbal informed consent, 117 volunteers, aged 25-85 years, received low caloric diet with time restricted feeding in the evening. We randomly recruited age- and sex-matched urban subjects (n=150) as control group for comparison with volunteers on low caloric diets. All subjects were given a training for consuming low caloric, time restricted feeding in the evening at a spiritual health center, Meerut, India. Blood pressures were measured by sphygmomanometer and diet and physical activity were assessed by validated questionnaires, based on WHO guidelines. Results: The findings revealed that some educated Indians of social class 1-3 may be motivated to follow a low caloric time restricted eating (TRE) in the evening for one year. After treatment with low caloric diet in the evening, mean body weight, body mass index, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed significant decline in the study group, compared to urban control group. Fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and total and LDL cholesterol, also showed significant decrease with mild increase in HDL cholesterol in the study group, compared to control subjects. Mean concentrations of immunoglobulins A, M and G showed significant increase in the intervention group without such changes in the control group. There was no decline in physical performance and there were no adverse effects on health except for temporary weakness in a few subjects in the study group. Conclusions: It is possible that Indian subjects with stable cardio-metabolic risk factors can be motivated to consume low caloric diet with restriction of feeding in the evening. Regular intake of low caloric diet especially, in the evening, may be quite effective, with significant decline in fasting blood glucose and blood lipids as well as significant increase in immune-globulins and physical performance. Long term follow up studies would be necessary to draw final conclusion.

Keywords

restricted feeding, low energy diet, diabetes, hypertension, lifestyle, heart disease