Abstract
Background: Intermittent fasting (IF) and calorie restriction (CR) may reduce inflammation, though it is unclear which is more effective in adults at risk of type 2 diabetes.
Objective: This exploratory sub-study compared the effects of achieved weight loss by IF plus early time-restricted eating (iTRE) or CR versus standard care (SC) on systemic and adipose tissue markers of inflammation.
Methods: Adults (N = 209, 34.8 ± 4.7 kg/m2) were randomised into three groups (2:2:1): iTRE (30% energy requirements between 0800 and 1200 on 3 days/week); CR (30% energy restriction); or SC for 6 months. Body weight and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-ɣ (IFNɣ) were measured at baseline and month 6 in a subset with weight loss above (CR: N = 32, iTRE: N = 35) or below median (SC: N = 18). The expression of inflammatory genes in adipose tissue was measured using qPCR.
Results: Weight loss was greater in iTRE and CR versus SC. While TNF-α and CRP levels decreased at month 6 (CRP: −1.36 ± 0.47 mg/dL, p < 0.001; TNF-α: −0.082 ± 0.03 pg/mL, p = 0.025), there were no between group effects. In adipose tissue, no differences in inflammatory genes were detected.
Conclusions: The mode of weight loss intervention did not differentially impact inflammatory markers in participants with weight loss above median.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e70137 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2025 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- adipose tissue inflammation
- calorie restriction
- inflammation
- intermittent fasting
- obesity interventions
