Effects of Time-Restricted Hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Preliminary Data from the CHRONO-NAFLD Project †
by
,
Sofia Tsitsou
1,*
,
Evangelos Cholongitas
2,
Triada Bali
2,
Antonia Neonaki
2,
Kalliopi-Anna Poulia
1 and
Emilia Papakonstantinou
1 1
Laboratory of Dietetics and Quality of Life, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece
2
First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital of Athens, Medical School of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17 Agiou Thoma, 11527 Athens, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the 14th European Nutrition Conference FENS 2023, Belgrade, Serbia, 14–17 November 2023.
Proceedings 2023, 91(1), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023091359
Published: 20 February 2024
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 14th European Nutrition Conference FENS 2023)
Abstract
:Background and objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is spreading at alarming rates, representing a serious public health problem, and it is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. This study aims to evaluate the effects of time-restricted feeding (TRF) along with a hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet (MD) on body weight and biochemical indices. Methods: This 12-week, open-label, randomized controlled trial [NCT05866744] consists of three interventional groups following a personalized diet (1500-2100 kcal/day): control group (MD without time restriction), early 14:10 TRF, and delayed 14:10 TRF. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical analyses are carried out at baseline and 12 weeks. Results: We recruited sixty NAFLD patients with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 31.8 ± 0.8 kg/m2 and a mean age of 51.05 ± 2.74 years, out of whom twenty-one (10 males, 47.6%) have completed the ongoing trial (control n = 7, early TRF n = 6, delayed TRF n = 8). There was no difference in body weight between the groups at 12 weeks, but each group lost significant body weight compared to baseline (control: 6.3%, p = 0.015; early and delayed TRF: 8%, p = 0.004, and p = 0.001, respectively). The three groups differed in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at 12 weeks. Significant decreases in BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, fat mass, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed in all groups. Additionally, in the control group, there was a decrease in fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), alanine aminotransferase, and controlled attenuation parameter derived from elastography; while in the early TRF group, there was a tendency for lower glycated hemoglobin A1c. Finally, in the delayed TRF group, fasting glucose, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, and alkaline phosphatase were improved compared to baseline. There was no difference in pleasure rate between the three interventions at baseline or 12 weeks. Discussion: These preliminary data show that 14:10 TRF led to clinically significant weight loss (>5%), mainly via fat mass loss, and to an improved lipid profile, regardless of the time restrictions placed on food intake. Consequently, TRF could be an alternative weight loss strategy for individuals with NAFLD.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, S.T., E.P., E.C. and K.-A.P.; methodology, research, and data analysis, S.T.; volunteers’ assessment; S.T., E.C., T.B. and A.N.; original draft preparation, S.T.; writing—review and editing, S.T., E.P. and E.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This study is partially funded by the “FUNJUICE” project (T2EDK-01922) and co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, RESEARCH-CREATE-INNOVATE.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement
Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement
Not applicable.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Tsitsou, S.; Cholongitas, E.; Bali, T.; Neonaki, A.; Poulia, K.-A.; Papakonstantinou, E. Effects of Time-Restricted Hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Preliminary Data from the CHRONO-NAFLD Project. Proceedings 2023, 91, 359. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023091359
AMA Style
Tsitsou S, Cholongitas E, Bali T, Neonaki A, Poulia K-A, Papakonstantinou E. Effects of Time-Restricted Hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Preliminary Data from the CHRONO-NAFLD Project. Proceedings. 2023; 91(1):359. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023091359
Chicago/Turabian StyleTsitsou, Sofia, Evangelos Cholongitas, Triada Bali, Antonia Neonaki, Kalliopi-Anna Poulia, and Emilia Papakonstantinou. 2023. "Effects of Time-Restricted Hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Preliminary Data from the CHRONO-NAFLD Project" Proceedings 91, no. 1: 359. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023091359
