{"id":278226,"date":"2026-02-11T06:18:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T06:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/278226\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T06:18:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T06:18:08","slug":"8-hour-time-restricted-eating-may-reduce-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/278226\/","title":{"rendered":"8-hour time-restricted eating may reduce symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AShare on Pinterest<\/a>Scientists saw great benefits from a type of intermittent fasting in improving Crohn\u2019s disease symptoms. Klaus Vedfelt\/Getty ImagesCrohn\u2019s disease is a chronic bowel condition, where management can involve lifestyle changes and several medications. Experts have been interested in how intermittent fasting may help people with Crohn\u2019s disease. A randomized controlled trial found that eating within an eight-hour window helped reduce weight, lower disease activity, and improve inflammation in people with Crohn\u2019s disease who have obesity or overweight.<\/p>\n

Crohn\u2019s disease<\/a> is a chronic condition that affects the intestines. It\u2019s a common inflammatory bowel disease subtype<\/a>. Long-term management can involve dietary changes to help manage symptoms. And experts have been interested in testing additional strategies to improve the symptoms and management of Crohn\u2019s disease. <\/p>\n

A study<\/a> published in Gastroenterology<\/a> evaluated how time-restricted feeding (also called time-restricted eating), specifically eating only during an eight-hour window each day, affected individuals with Crohn\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

The researchers found that it offered several benefits, including weight reduction and fewer Crohn\u2019s symptoms, such as less abdominal discomfort. <\/p>\n

The results suggest that time-restricted eating could help people with Crohn\u2019s disease in multiple health aspects.<\/p>\n

For this randomized controlled trial, researchers wanted to compare the use of time-restricted eating to a control group among individuals who had Crohn\u2019s disease and also had overweight or obesity. <\/p>\n

The authors explain that visceral fat<\/a>, the deeper abdominal fat, can influence Crohn\u2019s disease, such as by contributing to inflammation and heightened disease activity. As also noted in the study, time-restricted eating is a type of intermittent fasting<\/a>, which can involve only eating in certain timeframes.<\/p>\n

Researchers divided participants into an intervention group and a control group. All participants had Crohn\u2019s disease that was in remission. Twenty participants were in the intervention group, and 15 participants were in the control group. <\/p>\n

The intervention group participated in time-restricted eating: only eating during an eight-hour period and fasting the rest of the time for six days each week. While they were eating only during this time frame, they otherwise consumed their regular diet. Controls ate their usual food with no restrictions on when they could eat.<\/p>\n

Participants in the intervention group had to keep track of the time frame for their eating and when they stopped. Researchers noted that participants adhered to time-restricted eating if they did so for at least five of the six required days each week. <\/p>\n

Researchers evaluated participants at the start of the study and at 12 weeks. Participants were also contacted every other week to report on components like their symptoms. They also provided information on diet at baseline and at week twelve. Some participants received whole-body scans to evaluate fat and lean body mass.<\/p>\n

Researchers also collected blood work and stool samples from participants. <\/p>\n

Overall, the results showed several benefits in the intervention group. First, this group showed a decrease in body mass index compared to the control group. Since diets and energy intake were very similar between the two groups, the researchers suggest that this weight change was independent of diet quality or a decrease in calorie intake. <\/p>\n

The activity of Crohn\u2019s disease also decreased: stool frequency decreased by 40%, and abdominal discomfort was halved. <\/p>\n

They also saw a decrease in critical molecules. For example, there was a decrease in leptin, which researchers note is \u201ca marker of adiposity and inflammation.\u201d In a subgroup, they also observed a decrease in visceral fat in the intervention group, whereas the control group showed an increase. <\/p>\n

Further analysis showed that greater loss of body mass index was linked to pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines<\/a> are proteins that impact the immune system. The authors speculate that the increase in both \u201cmay be compatible with an evolving process of immune recalibration.\u201d <\/p>\n

Gut health also appeared to improve in the intervention group, with increases in microbial diversity and taxa that produce short-chain fatty acids<\/a>, which help regulate the gut. Researchers further found that some species increased as BMI decreased while others decreased, but these findings didn\u2019t remain significant. <\/p>\n

Study author Maitreyi Raman<\/a>, MD, a gastroenterologist, clinician scientist, and associate professor of medicine at the University of Calgary, whose study was funded by Crohn\u2019s Colitis Foundation and the Imagine Clinical Networks, explained the following: <\/p>\n

\u201cWe show that clinical symptoms of CD [Crohn\u2019s disease] improve with time-restricted eating, as do several systemic markers of inflammation. Participants in the time-restricted eating group had greater microbial diversity, and in participants who achieved at least one BMI point reduction, an increase in short-chain fatty acid-producing microbes was observed. Gut microbiome and immune interactions may contribute to intestinal inflammatory homeostasis restoration,\u201d she told Medical News Today. <\/p>\n

Babak Firoozi<\/a>, MD, board certified gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, who was not involved in the study, also commented regarding the trial to MNT: <\/p>\n

\u201cAny non-pharmacologic strategy that improves both Crohn\u2019s disease and overall health is meaningful. This study is the first randomized clinical trial to demonstrate a benefit of intermittent fasting in patients with Crohn\u2019s disease. While a recent meta-analysis suggested similar outcomes, this trial provides more rigorous, high-quality evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

How time restricted helps Crohn\u2019s<\/p>\n

\u201cThe observed benefit is likely driven by significant weight loss and reduction in visceral fat. Visceral fat is known to promote systemic inflammation, so its reduction may help improve Crohn\u2019s disease by lowering overall inflammatory burden.\u201d
\u2014 Babak Firoozi, MD<\/p>\n

This study does have several limitations. For one thing, it had a very small sample size and only lasted for twelve weeks. The authors note that these factors limit generalizability and support \u201cinterpretation as hypothesis-generating.\u201d <\/p>\n

The research also only included individuals who have obesity or overweight, so it\u2019s unclear how helpful this method of intermittent fasting would be for people who are not in these categories. Researchers also used body mass index to determine overweight or obesity status, but this metric has some limitations<\/a>. Data on diet were based on two 24-hour dietary recalls, so this and other participants\u2019 reported data may contain errors. <\/p>\n

This research was conducted in Canada, and participants were all between the ages of eighteen and seventy-five, which may also limit generalizability. One author received specific funding, though there were no declared conflicts of interest. <\/p>\n

Researchers admit that weight loss was likely a factor in the benefits they observed, but they believe the results suggest that time-restricted feeding could play a unique role. Ultimately, more research on how time-restricted feeding relates to weight and Crohn\u2019s disease will be helpful. <\/p>\n

More research can build on these findings and explore more long-term benefits. Raman explained that \u201cFuture long-term studies are warranted to test the impact of intermittent fasting on long-term remission, and other outcomes of interest, including need for surgery, development of strictures, and hospitalization.\u201d<\/p>\n

This research introduces another possible strategy that could help in the long-term management of Crohn\u2019s disease. The authors suggest that it could help people with Crohn\u2019s disease maintain long-term remission.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, intermittent fasting remains an effective tool to facilitate weight loss and reduce visceral fat in [people with obesity and overweight] with [Crohn\u2019s], improve clinical symptoms and disease activity of [Crohn\u2019s], and improve metabolic function,\u201d Raman noted.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s critical for anyone considering intermittent fasting to first discuss options with their doctor to better understand the possible risks. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor individuals living with Crohn\u2019s disease, the foundation of care remains adherence to a healthy diet and consistent compliance with prescribed medications. For those who are overweight or have obesity-related conditions, addressing excess weight is especially important. In that context, intermittent fasting may be a valuable strategy worth discussing as part of a comprehensive management plan,\u201d Firoozi told MNT.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestScientists saw great benefits from a type of intermittent fasting in improving Crohn\u2019s disease symptoms. Klaus…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":278227,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[134,111,139,556,69],"class_list":{"0":"post-278226","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-new-zealand","10":"tag-newzealand","11":"tag-nutrition","12":"tag-nz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=278226"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278226\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/278227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=278226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=278226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=278226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}