Metabolic Alteration Induced by Time Restricted Feeding at Different Points in the Circadian Cycle

The goal was to determine if a high fat diet given in a time restricted fashion can protect against obesity and inflammatory mediators. 12 week old C57BL/6 male mice were assigned to either a standard chow diet or a diet containing 45% fat. The high fat diet was provided ad libitum or in a time restricted fashion, either during the first of the second half of the active phase for 8 weeks. Time restricted meal intake reduced body mass gain, adiposity, glucose intolerance and cholesterol levels in mice fed a high fat diet. Mice fed a high fat diet, even on a time restricted meal pattern, resulted in increased tumor necrosis factor-a, fatty liver development and adipocyte hypertrophy suggesting time restricted feeding can protect against obesity, but does not protect against inflammation. These results suggest that a high fat diet can induce inflammation even in the absence of weight gain