The Effects of Time-Restricted Eating on Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Overweight Older Adults

Time-restricted eating (TRE) has been associated with beneficial effects on inflammation and oxidative stress; however, the effects of TRE on inflammation and oxidative stress in the aging population have been unexplored. This secondary analysis tested the effects of TRE on pro-inflammatory (hs-CRP [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein], IL-1β [interleukin 1 beta], IL-6 [interleukin 6], TNF-α [tumor necrosis factor alpha]) and oxidative stress (8-isoprostane) biomarkers in ten overweight older adults (mean age = 77.1 ± 6.1 years; 6 women and 4 men), who followed a TRE protocol of 16 hours of fasting per day and consumed food ad libitum during an 8-hour window for 4 weeks. TNF-α levels decreased from 43.2 (11.2) pg/ml to 39.7 (10.0) pg/ml with a Cohen's d effect size of 0.33, and IL-1β levels decreased from 1.4 (0.8) pg/ml to 1.3 (0.6) pg/ml with a Cohen's d effect size of 0.23, suggesting potential anti-inflammatory benefits. IL-6 and hs-CRP levels showed no substantial changes (Cohen’s d ≤ 0.03). The oxidative stress marker 8-isoprostane levels decreased slightly with a Cohen's d effect size of 0.07. The findings of this pilot study provide initial insights into the potential effects of TRE on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in older adults. Well-powered studies of longer duration are warranted to elucidate the potential benefits of TRE in aging populations.