Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a promising strategy to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes, but its effects on the lipid metabolism are controversial. This crossover study examined 31 overweight or obese women who followed a two-week early TRE (eTRE) and a two-week late TRE (lTRE). Plasma lipid profiles were analyzed using shotgun lipidomics before and after each intervention. eTRE affected 103 lipid species, reducing ceramides and phosphatidylcholines, and altered the activity indices of desaturases D5D, D6D, and D9D, as well as elongase ELOVL6. lTRE altered D5D index but caused no substantial changes in lipid species and classes. Combined analysis of plasma lipidome and subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies revealed alterations in the glycerophospholipid pathway and the expression of phospholipase enzymes PLB1, PLA2G6, and PLAG4B by the TRE timing. These results suggest that the eating timing during TRE is crucial for remodeling lipid metabolism, warranting consideration in future dietary research and recommendations.

Kai Simons and Christian Klose are shareholders of Lipotype GmbH. Mathias J. Gerl and Markus Damm are employees of Lipotype GmbH. Other authors declare no competing interests.

NCT04351672

The study was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG RA 3340/3-1, project number 434112826 and DFG RA 3340/4-1, project number 530918029 to OP-R), by the German Diabetic Association (Allgemeine Projektfoerderung der DDG 2020 and 2023 to OP-R); and by the European Association for Study of Diabetes 2020 (Morgagni Prize 2020 to OP-R). Funders were not involved in preparation of study design and implementation of the study; data collection, management, data analyzation, and interpretation; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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